There are a lot of reasons why someone’s output might change. Why they might not spend as much time at the office. Why their priorities might shift. Why their fans might notice a difference.
As we’ve talked about, filmmaker Cameron Crowe was recently asked by the New York Times why his latest projects haven’t been “on the level of the work that came before.”
His response? “Some of that was taking time to raise two boys and really investing time in that.”
How great an answer is that? To do it honestly and with a shrug.
Author Michael Chabon recalls early in his career meeting a writer he admired, who advised him not to have kids if he was serious about being a novelist. “You lose a book for every child,” Chabon remembers him saying. Four kids and fourteen books later, Chabon says he’s alright with that.
When people ask why, you have the best excuse in the world. You’re a parent. You have another priority now. Maybe your performance drops 5% or you hit fewer home runs or your art is really transgressive—but you have kids. And taking time to raise them is an excuse that you can be proud of.
