Submitted By: Kristin Moran

I came across a WSJ article a couple months ago, As China Booms, Millions of Children Are Left Behind that discusses the reality that as China’s economy continues to grow at an alarming rate many parents are choosing to leave work on the farm to pursue opportunities in the city.

I can’t imagine the stress and heartache these families must go through when making this decision. I am not a parent, but have been told that a parent’s love for their child is like no other type of love. It is both indescribable and unconditional.

When I first read this article I was angry because I feel it is socially irresponsible to have kids that you then leave to raise themselves, or to be raised by other people. After reading it a few more times I can understand how some Chinese (and American) parents are forced into situations where in order to support their families they have to sacrifice being with their families. This is obviously not just a Chinese issue because as the cost of living gets higher and higher in the U.S. many parents are being forced out of the home and into work. I just wonder what long term effects this is going to have on us as a nation, on China as a nation, and on us globally.

Whenever asked what I want to do with my life, my first response is to be a mother. Ideally, I want to have kids and want to be able to stay at home and raise my kids. Realistically, if I want to raise my kids in California (or many other places across the globe) I am going to have to work to help support my family. There is obviously no one answer that is going to work for every person or each family, but I always feel it is an interesting topic to bring up in business classes. We are all enrolled in this MBA program to further our careers, but what is going to happen when we start having children of our own?

Professor Carr Addendum: Great post and topic. Difficult, emotional issues for sure. Heart breaking article. See an earlier post I made on one of the sub-topics that Kristin’s post addresses (but goes a little different direction) — What Makes for a Quality Life? Kristin is right — for those who want to stay and live in California, the numbers and cost of living here likely mean that if you don’t come from (lots of) money, get ready to work a lot to pay your bills and spend time away from your kids. Another reason sensitivity on this issue is important is that you will manage employees who work very hard for you and make far less $$$ than you do. In being a good leader and managing your employees, it is important that you recognize and appreciate that the time these folks put in at the firm for you and your clients means time away from their families and kids. Never forget that or breach that sacred trust they have placed in you in this regard.  For more on the having kids issue, see also the related post I recently made, Women and an MBA Degree.