[Foreign object in muddy water] Bringing your child to work

[Haniza Schlosser]

I constantly am reading parenting books. The latest one I have is called 100 ways to teach self esteem and values.  Getting the kids to have a high self esteem is important to me as I would like them to be strong to their values amongst other things.  

One chapter was talking about bringing the children to the parent's workplace so that they can have a bonding experience whilst teaching the kids on future career possibilities. My heart sank when I read how excited this kid was to follow her mom to university (her mom is a lecturer). I'm thinking that I have let down my kids by staying at home (as you probably note, my self esteem needs some bolstering up too). 

Then, I took a pause. I realized that I DO have a very important job and that I bring my children to work every day. Since Brigitta Nurilham is a bit older, she even helps in some of my work which I think will help her to learn these important life skills for herself. She and her brother will see what a stay at home parent does and it IS a career choice. Probably one of the hardest I've ever had in terms of a job.

Aside from the life skills that they'll learn like cooking, cleaning, laundry, dishes, etc.,  I'm also handling their education from the moment they're born. They'll see how I have to be creative in their learning like finding new things to paint - egg cartons are great. Or reading books to them in the middle of the day just to enhance their vocabulary, teaching them another language so that they have more marketable skills and also more fun when they travel the world.  Or dancing and singing just for fun coz life is full of joy. And they'll see that I'm an avid reader especially on books on my job which is on how to raise them.  

They will also learn about me and how I am as a person especially that I'm at home with them most of the time during their young age. They will know my passions, what makes me angry, happy or sad.  They can tell stories about me to their children and also the stories that I will tell them of the country I came from.  

Maybe they'll decide to follow my path, but I do want them to see that this is a choice that I took with utmost dedication and seriousness.  They are my most precious "products" and no one else is going to treat them as good as I and Kevin does. 

To those stay at home parents out there - salut! You are doing a tough job so be proud of yourselves. :) 

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Haniza Zainal Abidin - Schlosser

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Posted By Haniza Schlosser to Foreign object in muddy water at 5/24/2011 11:49:00 PM