Lean In
- Sheryl Sandberg
- Jan 3, 2017
- 2 min read
Reflection:
My dad and I don't always see eye to eye. He likes to be in control, while I value my independence. There have been many times when I have resented my dad's overbearing nature as a teenager and even now as a college student. However, my Business Honors summer reading assignment, Lean In, made me question my dad's impact on my life.
In the book, Sheryl Sandberg discusses how fathers and mothers should have relatively equal roles in the home. She points out that it is rare for a father to be responsible for household duties in order to support his wife's career. Sandberg adds that "[Children with involved and loving fathers] have higher levels of educational and economic achievement and lower delinquency rates... [These children] even tend to be more empathetic and socially competent."
My mom has maintained a successful career as a palliative medicine physician throughout my life. I have always admired her for being able to manage her career as a doctor while raising and homeschooling seven children. But as I read Sandberg's lines, I realized that a major factor in my mom's success is my dad. In addition to working as a ophthalmologist and colonel in the army, he juggled all of my siblings' various schedules, ranging from track to soccer to robotics. He was often involved in our organizations as a volunteer. In addition, he does many other tasks at home that have allowed my mom to do the work she enjoys and excels at.
My dad was also our primary math teacher. The first of my siblings to dislike math, I probably drove my dad crazy throughout middle and high school. Despite my resistance, he made me work through problems for hours. My dad's instruction was difficult for me, and my sentiments toward the subject have not changed. However, my strong background in math has helped me to excel in some of the courses where many business majors struggle.
The realization of my dad's influence in my life challenged me a lot. Instead of resenting the times when my dad was too involved or hard on me, I acknowledged that I was better off because of it. My dad has made many sacrifices for my mom, my siblings, and I. He is not perfect, and I often get frustrated with him. But I am thankful for my dad's presence in my life, and for his example to my brothers and I in supporting my mom and her career.
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