You don’t nee d to be the best
Pascal explains how having children changed his outlook on a career in art
After having kids I found that, because I was more focused, I could do more work in fewer hours. Being busy doesn’t necessarily mean I’m being productive. This was a good thing for me to learn and accept.
I had to accept it because life changes all the time. My work will change with it, and that’s okay. I say this because sometimes the conditions are ideal and I do a great piece, and sometimes I’m sick or my kids or sick, and my focus is split and my computer is slow and my dog needs to go out … So my work will be what it will be. I had to learn how to live with this and accept it, which was not the case before I had kids.
I also chose to accept not being the best, instead of being the best I could be, which is very different. Before having kids, I wanted to be the best, no matter what discipline, and that made me work more and not take care about anything outside of work. When we had our first daughter, I realised I wanted to spend some time with her. She had a schedule. I had to get on that schedule if I wanted to be a part of her life. I did. And, oddly enough, my work completely changed and I loved that change. I felt a little stupid for not slowing down earlier. I enjoyed what I was doing more, because I wasn’t doing it all the time.