"I don't waste as much time at work because I'd rather spend it with my kids"
About this Quote
The intent is deceptively simple: defend a recalibrated schedule. The subtext is sharper. In celebrity industries, “busy” is often a performance, a way to signal relevance. Crawford punctures that by treating work time as something to be managed, not worshipped. The phrase “I don’t waste as much time” is doing the heavy lifting: it suggests that much of what passes for professional commitment is drag - meetings, appearances, and vanity tasks that reward optics more than output. She’s claiming the right to edit.
Context matters: Crawford is a ’90s icon speaking from the vantage point of longevity, financial security, and brand control. Not everyone can trade time the way she can, and she knows it. That tension gives the quote its bite. It’s both a relatable parental truth and a reminder that autonomy is a luxury in labor culture.
The line also nudges at a gendered double standard: men are praised for “prioritizing family” as an admirable choice; women are asked to justify it. Crawford answers with a businesslike metric - waste reduction - turning motherhood into a rational, even strategic, decision rather than a sentimental one.
Quote Details
| Topic | Work-Life Balance |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Crawford, Cindy. (2026, January 15). I don't waste as much time at work because I'd rather spend it with my kids. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-dont-waste-as-much-time-at-work-because-id-140683/
Chicago Style
Crawford, Cindy. "I don't waste as much time at work because I'd rather spend it with my kids." FixQuotes. January 15, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-dont-waste-as-much-time-at-work-because-id-140683/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"I don't waste as much time at work because I'd rather spend it with my kids." FixQuotes, 15 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-dont-waste-as-much-time-at-work-because-id-140683/. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.








