5 Reasons to Take Your Kids to Work with You

Working.

As adults and as parents, working seems to be the name of the game. Full-time jobs piled on top of full-time jobs is what we do. Right?

Some of us are at home all of the time, others of us go to a “real job” during the day (or at night) and come home to the other full time jobs of being a mom, a wife, a cook, a maid….and the list goes on.

Our kids are watching us all the time and we are setting examples for our kids each and every day without even thinking about it.

We are all trying to turn our children into people that are enjoyable to be around, that follow through, are happy, and an asset to their community. Something as simple as taking the time to explain your job to them is the key, whether at an office or in the laundry room.

There is a lot for kids to learn on Take Your Kids to Work Day, for instance:

That life isn’t fair.

Gosh, I say this to my kids a lot. Whether they are fighting or having to do something they don’t want to do – it’s really important to see that this rule applies to adults too.

Do we get our way all of the time? No.

Do we have to do things that we don’t want to? Allllllllllllll the time!

Do we have to do things “because that’s what needs to be done”? 100%

Life simply just isn’t “fair”

Work Ethic

It takes a lot of hard work to accomplish things. To get the job done. Most things worth doing are a TON of work and dedication. And when you are just going through the motions, it shows. They need to care!

Showing them everything you do.

Showing your kids what you do throughout a day can be very beneficial to their development. At the office or at home explaining the processes of what is going on:

  • This is why it’s important to pay the bills and where the money comes from, how to write a check, what tax is, how to calculate it, etc.
  • This is why we have to go to the grocery store and why we make the choices we do there.
  • This is why it’s important to make the beds, do laundry and clean the house

Why we do things can be as simple as talking out loud while doing things so your kiddo knows why you are doing them verses just watching…it keeps them engaged and learning.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

I wish I would have really thought about this a lot more when I was young. With technology and the internet these days, they can literally look into so many different jobs without leaving the house (a lot of us wish we didn’t know how much of our jobs we can do from home!)! How cool is that? Seeing the work-life is really beneficial in starting that conversation. What passions do your kids have? Should you be fostering certain skills/passions? Taking tours? Exploring museums? Maybe taking your kids to work to see someone else’s job would be beneficial sometime too!

A job is a job is a job. Or is it?

One beautiful thing about taking your kids to see you at work is so they can see the drive that you have for your position. To watch you accomplish things. The plan is to show them the magic that happens when you love something, how hard work can help you to accomplish a task. That there are ups and downs at work, some things you love, others not so much!

The beautiful thing about this is it doesn’t have to be a ‘day job’ – you can show them these things while volunteering or share with them how much you like doing certain things around the house – including raising them!

I love my life. I really do.

I have a pile of realities coexisting in my work life including a working mom, SAHM, volunteer and ranch mom, just as many of you do. All of these jobs have different benefits and different challenges, and I try to remind myself to talk through as much as I can when my kids are present.

Jamie Lindamood
Jamie lives outside of Eureka on a cattle ranch with her favorites...husband, Diltz, and their three kiddos, Sydney (10), Henry (8) and Charlie (6). Works at Krehbiel Architecture in Wichita and spends quite a bit of time in her hometown working, playing, and volunteering. At home in Eureka, she is overly involved too...working with the community for revitalization and always enjoys encouraging people to learn how their food really gets to their plate as an advocate of agriculture through her Day at the Ranch tour, You Are Here agriculture education program and Greenwood County Cattlewomen social media outlets.