Value Factor

Tonight I came home with an unusual amount of energy after a long day of work, a long commute, and freezing weather.  Usually that's a recipe for work-lag.  However, I jumped right into getting things ready for dinner, bathing the kids, and wrestling before bed.  I don't remember feeling impatient or tired, nor did I lose my temper with the kids at bedtime--all of which is unusual for me.  I traced my energy level back to my work day, where the energy level was especially high because it was our conference with the judge in preparation for his conference with the other judges.  In this meeting we evaluate the cases that were argued during the week in light of the legal issues we highlighted in our bench memos.  When it came to the cases I was assigned, I felt that I had nailed the issues for the most part and was able to provide valuable counsel the judge on various legal theories.  At one point, the judge told me I'd won him over on a particular issue.  At another point, our commissioner jokingly commented, "Now I understand why we have law clerks."  I'm certain that the value a dad feels at work is a big factor in how he feels when he comes home.