Because my husband and I owned our own business, I took my daughters to work many days. Not so I could spend time with them exactly, but because I needed to get more work done after they got out of school. Not a noble mother move, but it had its upsides.
Our business was in a two-story building, and under the stairwell was a door that led to a large closet we filled with kid stuff. I wasn’t the only mother juggling. All of the employees’ kids, including my own, could go in there to color, play, and stay occupied while we sat at our desks and got things done. That worked well until the fire marshal did an inspection and sternly told me that the fire code would not allow that. When he patiently explained the potential terrorizing possibility of a fire breaking out, I concurred that it was not my best mom idea.
But what I know watching my now-grown daughters is that their time spent in our workplace, whether it was deliberate or survival, was incredibly valuable in shaping how they approach their work today. There were 7 things I didn’t know they were learning from the life we lived.
7 Life Lessons for ‘Bring Your Kid To Work’ Day
1. The value of hard work.
Since my husband and I worked together, there were times our girls asked us to quit talking about our business. And they were right. But through those conversations, they understood we were building something that mattered to us. To do that required a commitment to working hard if accomplishing our goals was the objective.
2. Passion and work should always intersect.
We had a passion for what we were doing and felt strongly that it was our purpose. The goals we set and objectives we hoped to meet came from deep in our hearts. I watched as the girls followed their passions, and I believe in some ways it was because we did. They saw not only our daily challenges but the reason behind our commitment to face them. We believed in what we were doing.
3. Talents create roles in the workplace.
My husband is a visionary, a marketer, and a motivator. I am detail-oriented, creative, and sensitive to human nature. It was early on in our work life that we defined roles. He led the parade, creating the big picture, goals, and direction. I assembled the players and created short-term strategies. He was the company’s President, and I was the COO. My daughters had their own unique talents and I was amazed that each of them found the workplace that suited them well. Couldn’t ask more than that as a mom.
4. Failure is meant to teach, not give up.
We had challenges in our business, like an album we believed in that didn’t sell. Mistakes were made that changed the trajectory of a project we thought had a clear path. Our daughters saw us face failures as much as we celebrated our successes. We didn’t hide either from them. And it instilled the desire to get up again when failure hit their work life.
5. Obstacles can be overcome.
We had many obstacles: creative differences, the shifting marketplace, and employees who, despite being well-intentioned, were not suited to their positions. But there was always a workaround. We didn’t hide these challenges from our girls, and when they saw us get to the other side, they gained confidence that they could too.
6. Work culture can create relationships that transcend life and time.
We had the most amazing staff. Even when they didn’t fit the job they were in, we usually found a place that worked for their talents. Now, don’t get me wrong—there were a few problem employees. But because of the culture we created, our relationships were strong. Our girls have dear friends with whom they have worked in many arenas. They treasure those relationships in a way that makes me proud.
7. Work is not for you alone.
Being in the Christian music business did not mean sin never entered the building. Of course it did; none of us is perfect. But one thing my husband and I knew was that the God we served is the one we wanted to please.
“Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ” (Colossians 3:23-24). And it makes my heart sing to see the same things in our girls.
We weren’t perfect in how we lived our lives in the workplace, and I don’t expect my daughters to be either. But bringing your child to work—on this day or any day you can—and sharing your work experience with them may teach something that truly can’t be taught anywhere else.
