Tomorrow is "Take your Child to Work Day"!

I am so excited. This is the first year I can officially bring one of my daughters to work!

Last summer I accepted a position with our school district as a teacher assistant in an Inclusion Kindergarten class room.

I feel like at this point in my life, at age 48, after having a very rewarding career as a full time Special Education PreK teacher, I really don't need to work full time to feel fulfilled. My fulfillment comes from the Lord, anyways! And I am blessed to have a husband who has a well-paying career in the field of computer software engineering. So....

Claire will go with me to school tomorrow to see what I do all morning. I think she thinks we just play and do a little bit of writing...she is forgetting that in kindergarten we have every subject. The special needs students I work with also have more 1:1 instruction with the math and writing components of the curriculum so she will get to observe me trying to help M---- and J-- with their writing, reading and listening skills.

She told me in Kindergarten she wanted to be like me. I said Oh, a Special Education PreK teacher? She said No, a mommy so I don't have to work! (ARGH.......) I made sure I set her straight on that one! LOL

She told me in 1st grade she wanted to be a teacher but only if she could teach 1st grade (she had a little "crush" on her teacher, Mrs. D--------, who happened to be an excellent teacher!)

Yesterday she told me she doesn't want to be a teacher because they don't make much money (sigh). I reminded her I didn't go into the field to make money. It is what God wanted me to do with my talents and giftings. She said she is hoping He will give her a talent that makes alot of money (sigh, chuckle).

The point: "take your child to work day" is a great way to show your child that there are many career options for them. I always remind my daughters that my greatest job has been their mommy but that my career has been teacher. I teach them, I teach other children, I volunteer at church. The Lord wants us to use our giftings! He will show them what He wants them to do, in due time, if they seek Him with all their hearts. I also tell them that sometimes God has us in different places for different "seasons" of our life.

Do I want to be an inner city special ed prek teacher again?

I sure do....it was so rewarding.....but....

that door is closed right now while my children are still living at home and are under age 18. I feel that by working part time, I really do have the best of both worlds.

Some women don't have that option. I know many women, in my church, and some of my closest friends/family, who must work full time either because they are single moms, or because their husbands have a much lower salary and the economy is very bad right now, or....

Some women like it and can handle it! I know many women who work full time, because they like it!

God has different plans for each of us. We need to be listening to Him as to what He wants us to do.

Meanwhile...I am gonna have a blast tomorrow showing off my daughter to my co-workers, introducing her to the class, and having her take notes for her essay, on what I do all morning. She is in for one fun morning!

Do you have plans with a child for "Take your Child to Work Day"?

The following anecdote is one I found when I googled the topic.

"Take Our Daughters And Sons To Work^® Day reminds us there is a new generation at work, one in which both girls and boys expect to fully participate in their workplaces and families. According to a study conducted by the Families and Work Institute, 81 percent of girls and almost 60 percent of boys said they would reduce their work hours when they have children.

By bringing girls and boys together, we will continue to create a more equitable world—at home, at school, and in the workplace. This year we are celebrating the opportunities that girls and boys will discover and the opportunities for parents, mentors, and the community to continue involvement in this unique educational experience.

If you’re ready, let’s begin Making Choices for a Better World in order to shape the future for A New Generation At Work."

This was written by Carolyn McKecuen, Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Foundation