The Family Man knows the importance of his children's nightly bedtime ritual.

On Friday's after a long work week the temptation is great to hustle the kids off to bed, kick back and relax. I deserve it, and after all it's just one night a week. My kids are only 4 and 2, it's not like they'll be traumatized or scarred for life if we skip the books and 'tickles', and honestly I could use a refreshing beverage.

The temptation passes, however, as my little boys come running into the bedroom with their 'blankies' and books, saying, "It's time to read, Dad!"

So we all hop up on the bed, Dad in the middle and a boy on either side, and read for perhaps the hundredth time Bob the Builder, two or three of the Tonka Trucks adventures books, Thomas the Tank Engine, Green Eggs and Ham, or some combination of these and others. There's no room for slacking in effort - Dad's voice must approximate the various characters and convey true enthusiasm for each and every story.

After the books are read Mom will take one boy to brush his teeth, while the other gleefully says, "Dad, it's time for tickles!" whereupon I commence to tickle him silly. Mom trades boys and the other receives his tickle time. Then it's time for prayers and the tuck-in ritual, which involves a few more tickles for good measure and a 'stern' admonition not to kick off all their covers - which each boy promptly does as soon as we've left the room.

At this point it's 9:00 p.m. The beverage beckons, along with the Wall Street Journal, some quite time with my fabulous wife, some bills needing attention and the prioritization of the weekend to-do list.

The vision of the relaxing hour or two has vanished like a desert mirage - replaced with the knowledge I have given my kids something very important to them, something they cherish and look forward to each night. There is satisfaction in that, a feeling of having done the right thing, perhaps not the easy thing.

With that in mind, I change into my sweats and head to the gym. There are weights to be lifted and miles to be run.

The right thing, if not the easy thing.

It's great to be The Family Man.