In this economy, it’s hard to imagine saying, “I’m outta here.”

It’s especially hard to imagine saying that when you have to support your children.

Those little grunts costs upwards of $250,000 each to raise to adulthood.  A-ha! This is why I don’t have my sailboat.

So, your job is killing you and yet you have mouths to feed.

I need to say one quick thing: if your job makes you a really bad parent, then you need to quit your job.  You know who you are.

For everybody else

if you have to keep your job because you have a family that depends on you, then we need to make this work.

I’m going to suggest a few difficult changes. Changes your family may not immediately care for.  But, in the not too long run, you’ll be happier for it, and so will they.

I’m not heartless. I have kids.  These ideas work really well. But they may sound a little harsh.  I have been there. I have made each one of these mistakes (especially mistake #1).

Here’s how to make this work:

1. Stop spending money as an apology to your kids.

Children can be bought off.  Children are really good at getting things when you don’t have time to give them time.  And when you get caught in this trap, you have to keep your job, because jeans now cost $200 (the person who prices jeans at $200 has a special place in hell, am I right?).

I like Michelle Singletary’s 21 day financial fast, because it helps you see where you are spending your money, and it’s a great way to see how many times you feel the need to buy your kid something to get the whining and the guilt to stop.

2. Stop taking work home.

This step is very hard for people. If you don’t have the option to take work home, suddenly your family comes into focus.  You also do a better job deciding what to work on at work.  You have to prioritize if you can’t take it home.

Another way we take home work is when we bitch about our jobs at the dinner table.  Set an egg timer, get your complaining out and then talk about something else.

2a. Bring back the dinner table.  Stop eating in front of the TV.

3.  Tweets, texts and phone calls do not happen from 6-9 pm.

Get out a board game.  My kids love board games.  They also love texting.  Our rule is that it needs to be somebody’s grandma or somebody had better be dying for us to text during board game night.  My kids are 12, 19 and 21.  So, it’s no mean feat.

4. Don’t schedule up the weekend.

Maybe your kids have one activity on the weekend. Not four.  Okay? Same with you.

5. Make your children earn their keep.

Even a 7-year-old can fold socks.  You were not made to pick up after everybody.

What does any of this have to do with keeping/loving my job?

Balance,grasshopper, balance.

It’s a lot easier to work when your home life is normal and you feel connected to the people you love.  It’s harder to work when you just feel resentment and/or annoyance by your family.

It’s normal to feel resentment when you work at Soul-Suck, inc.

Families are not always easy.

One of these things needs to work well. Then, you’ll feel better about work.

You’ll feel like you’re working towards something great. It won’t feel like such a sacrifice.

And your kids won’t grow up into spoiled brats. And that’s awesome.

Tomorrow, We finally start talking about Stopping the Soul Suck At Work…