Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day

Happy Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day! Show your daughter what it’s like to be a working mom.

What Is the Origin of Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day?

Fourth Thursday of April – Thursday, April 27th, 2017

Acting on research that showed adolescent girls received less attention than boys, this day was initiated in 1993 by the Ms. Foundation for Women. The intention was to give girls additional direct attention and an insight into work world opportunities available to them.

It was to serve the multiple purpose of increased self esteem for young girls as well as give them some ideas of the wealth of careers in the world. Thirdly, it allowed them more one-on-one time with mom or dad. (Source)

Why I Will Participate

It’s my legacy. I come from a generation of grandmothers who worked to take care of their children, after the death of a spouse or divorce. They worked, cared for their children, supported their grandchildren, were active in their community, and remained self-sufficient.

I am so thankful that I still have both of my grandmothers. They have been able to see me grow as a woman, wife, and mother.

My mother was a working mother. She took care of me on her own until meeting and marrying my stepfather and having my brother. She was always an example of how a woman could do it all.

Growing up in a two-parent household, we always had everything we needed and most of what we wanted. My mom and dad worked, tag-teamed to make dinner, attended our extra-curricular activities and sporting events, took us on family vacations, and have been a constant presence in our lives.

I never felt slighted that my mother worked. In fact, I admired her dedication and commitment to jointly supporting her family alongside her husband.

I recall going to work with my mom, seeing her workspace, meeting her co-workers, and getting to see the “behind the scenes” part of her job as a customer service representative at our local power company.

I have enjoyed taking my daughter with me to “the office,” as she calls it. She’s only four, so she doesn’t fully understand what I do. But, she knows it’s where I go each day after taking her to school and where I return from when I pick her up in the afternoon.

I want her to know that she will have the opportunity to further her education in college and to have a career, just like I did, if she CHOOSES. But, it will be her choice (and a joint choice with her husband). She will not be forced into making a decision by any one else’s expectations.

I am so thankful we live in a country where we have those choices and our lives are not mapped out for us.

_{Image courtesy of  David Castillo Dominici / FreeDigitalPhotos.net}

Have you taken your daughter to work to see how you earn a living?