No doubt you have heard the saying about the shoemaker’s children going without shoes. It means that a professional can be so focused on his work that he does not provide for the needs of his family.

This year, and indeed this month, I resolve to do everything necessary to furnish my own children with health care directives and durable powers of attorney for financial matters. Now that two are married and have children of their own, it is essential that if they or their spouses become incapacitated, as in a car accident, the other spouse has full ability to make health care decisions, access medical information and use funds to handle the emergency.

Fortunately they already have wills, but they are young and healthy, so these extra documents are perhaps even more urgently needed in the short run.