How do I reconcile...

Your question: "How do you balance pursuing your dreams with your family?"
I think there are as many scenarios as there are parents, but if you ask me, here's what I say.

I stay calm as much as possible. I'm far from perfect. I do what I can, but there's no point in getting upset most of the time. I wrote in Breathe Happiness: our children, even babies, are our mirror. When they're upset, I just have to calm down and immediately spread a certain serenity. I don't believe in the terrible twos for this reason. My wonderful way to calm down during a crisis (for babies and children alike) is to breathe, speak calmly, explain, and look into their eyes, tenderly. If I'm the one who's struck by panic, I try to dissociate myself (by looking at the scene, distancing myself from it), I go along with it ("that's how it is now"), and I breathe. I take my mind off things.

I deal with it. I'm always with it. I'm with my babies 24/7... Or almost. And that's how it is. They follow me everywhere, on my hip, in my arms. Backstage, in meetings, on set, in conferences, when I write, create, ... Often I have to wait. I stay calm and enjoy the moment. I can't and don't want to be anywhere else. I want to enjoy it. I love it. I am like that. So good, happy, fulfilled. So yes, I often want to talk to you, but I'm carrying the baby, or watching over him so he doesn't fall during his first steps. So I wait for the moment when, like now, while he sleeps in my arms at night, I can follow my momentum. While waiting for him, I walked with him, I held his big brother when he arrived and welcomed my eldest with open arms who tells me about his day. I'm enjoying it.

I continue. Being at home with my baby or constantly carrying him doesn't prevent me from fulfilling myself or from thriving. On the contrary. It's for them and surrounded by them that I've accomplished projects that make a difference, that I've realized my craziest ideas. And if that's what you want, I wish the same for you and would tell you that it's just a matter of choosing it, of not waiting. We don't know what will happen tomorrow or next week.

Thanks to Vincent for this photo taken yesterday during our meeting!