It was one of those weekends when the curtain that separates work and family fell to the floor. Our plans for the beach were put on hold, and our visit to Papa would have to wait another week.

I was on deadline and time was running out.

Luckily, what I needed to do and what I wanted to do were one and the same, which made working on the weekend much easier.

I think I am pretty good at separating church and state, and work and home for that matter, but there are times when the "job" seems to follow me back to the 'hood like a stray dog looking for a free meal. Not this time. This was not so much a dog following me home, as it was me chasing a dream. I had dedicated several months of my professional life to a project that was finally coming to fruition. All I needed was a little time and space to put on the finishing touches.

My first task was to set some boundaries. I pulled the family together and let them know exactly what I needed for the weekend. More importantly, I let them know that I could not do it alone — I needed their support. And I meant it! I asked Mom to be my copy editor and my daughter to pick up the slack around the house.

Within hours of our family meeting, I was engulfed in my project. I pounded the keyboard like Ray Charles on piano. I ran spelling and grammar checks and printed dummy copies for my wife to proofread. With red pen in hand, she diligently checked for errors. Some of my returned work looked like blood-splattered set pieces from a horror film, while others were "Leave it to Beaver" clean.

Aside from the tap-tap-tap of the keyboard, the house was deafeningly silent. No music, no TV, no child asking for help with her latest project. Even the dogs were quiet. I went on with my business, but I began to feel uneasy.

I made it to bed relatively early that first night, but my sleep was fitful, despite finishing far more for the day than I had originally hoped. As morning broke, I poured my coffee then poured myself back into my project. It did not take long for my anxiety to return.

The silence had become surreal and the house a mausoleum. I missed my daughter running through the hall and the dogs playing in the living room.

I needed to hear Miley Cyrus blaring in the background and Mom scolding my daughter for having the stereo and TV on at the same time.

In doing my best to create a "peaceful" environment, I somehow sucked the life out of my home. While my family didn't complain about the temporary lifestyle change, it sure bothered me.

In the apparent battle between work and family, more and more parents sacrifice their home life for the job. This can be dangerous. Still, it is healthy for kids to see Mom and Dad working hard and following their dreams. When they see us reaching for goals, they learn that they can do the same and that the family will be there to support them.

Thanks to the support of my family, I completed my project. Things are back to normal in the DeMattos household.

Hannah Montana is on the TV while Miley Cyrus blares on the stereo. I can even hear Mom shouting above the din.

There is no mistaking where I am. I am home with no work in sight and couldn't be happier.

Michael C. DeMattos is on faculty at the University of Hawai'i School of Social Work. Born and raised on the Wai'anae Coast, he now lives in Kane'ohe with his wife, daughter, two dogs, two mice and 1,000 worms.