Video cameras were out in force at the Pittsburgh Public Schools elementary school swimming championships at Pittsburgh Allderdice High School on Tuesday. The images were not meant to be kept for posterity in order to capture a future Michael Phelps. Instead the cameras were held by parents sending video text messages to other parents who could not attend.

Question: I'm a single mother who has been unemployed for about six months. In my previous position, I had a flexible schedule, which allowed me to easily attend school events or schedule medical appointments for my two young children. I have now been offered a 9-to-5 job located about an hour from my home.

A question I most often hear from readers seeking work/life balance is "How do I get my manager to give me flexibility?" Sometimes it comes from a mother struggling to take care of an infant and keep her job. Other times, from a male boomer who can't stand the commute and wants to work from home a few mornings.