Ever since Ms. Magazine sponsored the first Take Your Daughter to Work Day, I looked forward to that inspiring my daughters to choose fascinating careers and excel in the workplace. When boys were invited, too, it seemed only fair. Why not make it a national holiday?
The problem was, at first I didn’t work outside the home. Should I have let the girls stay home and help with the laundry? Talk about a lack of respect for full-time moms. Should I have let them sit in a corner and watch me type? Boring! Their father seemed to always be working out of town on that special day. The one time the girls made it on to a Hollywood soundstage, they were trapped there for twelve hours, coloring and eating licorice.
Many companies sponsor special days, with group activities and childcare that hardly show what a real office workday is like. Maybe the reality would be too boring. If your parent is a firefighter, the reality could be too dangerous. In theory, it’s a great idea, but as is too often the case, only a few kids really benefit.
Old-fashioned career days are still a good bet. Or maybe, parents with exciting jobs could take more than one child. Oh wait – that’s what field trips are all about. Unfortunately, in my children’s LA public school, those are far and few between. If companies really want to inspire kids, maybe they could provide buses. Better yet, they could contribute to local schools. But I digress.
What do you think about Bring Your Child to Work Day? Have your children had good experiences?
When a Marine brings his or her children to work, people notice. More times than not, it is because they are single parents, and were unable to obtain child care for that particular day. The desk suddenly has a child at the helm, drawing and coloring, and asking mommy or daddy questions, laughing, and being a kid.
Last Friday a SNCO brought his 4 year old daughter with him to work. Single Marines usually live states away from their children, so the summer is the time when they get to have them for a few weeks. The Marine Corps is very good at working around schedules since the Corps "will get theirs" eventually.
It is heart warming to see big bad Marines taking care of their sons and daughters, holding them in their arms. How sad it must be to have to let them go when vacation is over. Every day is precious. For married folks or single parents, I hope that parents take time off to spend with their kids, as life is unpredictable, and anything can happen.
On Memorial Day, I hope we can remember the fallen, but especially their families that can no longer visit with them in body. Say a prayer for them and pray that the war's end comes quickly so that people like the SNCO that brought his little girl to work can come home and continue to hold their own children if just for a moment longer.
Posted by: Joe at May 28, 2006 03:46 PM