ABSTRACT
We have all seen the images of the modern and harried adult, racing from work to home. If there is ever a still moment, the androgynous pant-suited (or overall-covered) adult is at the fulcrum of a large balance beam seemingly burdened with children and a spouse on one side and work-related paraphernalia, usually a briefcase and computer, on the other. The balance is delicate and any false movement to one side will start the items on the other side in a downward slide. The message in this balance metaphor is clear—spend too much time at work and your family will suffer and vice versa. There are similar other metaphors that offer similar dire outcomes. There is the juggler—similarly dressed, usually androgynous in appearance, but now with a baby, computer, spouse, client, and other work and family “balls” in the air. If this harried worker/family juggler holds on to any one of these objects too long the others will crash. It is like juggling a bowling ball, chain saw, and penknife at the same time. The juggler had better pay close attention or she or he will be crushed/slashed/stabbed. These metaphors are not only anxiety provoking; the message that they send is wrong. Work and family are not a zero-sum game. Although there are reasonable limits to all activities, there are many benefits that accrue to people who both work and have families and other out-of-work life activities. It is time to change the metaphor.
