But most of us may not like this option because we want the money and status associated with career advancement. Some of us have to take the additional responsibilities because we are with such companies where our careers wither and die if we don't do justice to our work and go up.
Your troubling question -- How to manage both work and family with an ailing father or mother needing constant care or kids to be taken care of? The answer is simple. Since you are committed to both family and work, you have to keep a balance between the two and for that you must lay the ground rules.
Ground rules
You should be able to persuade your employer to allow you to work extra hours from home so that you can take care of the kids when your spouse is away on work. Sometimes, you can leave office a little early to be on time for dinner along with your family and in exchange you work from home on Fridays. You should be able to convince your employer that you will put in all the additional hours the job needs.
You should also sit with your family and explain your work schedule. You should see to it that you are not disturbed while you are on work at home.
Options for growth
The usual corporate ladder may not be useful for some ambitious professionals. If you are one among them, you should look for non-traditional career growth opportunities. Instead of toiling for the next promotion, stay in the same position and look for good paying and satisfying projects with higher-profile brands. To take up such an assignment, you should seriously and creatively delegate, so that you can concentrate your work time on the projects that give you the most visibility. Use your unique skills and spend more time on high value activities.
Get the right support
How to keep your family satisfied while you continue to advance in your career? The answer is that you must have helpful people around and an employer who allows you to handle your own workday.
You must have an understanding spouse. When you are tied down to your work, she/he should support you and manage the house. You should be available online when you work from home.
