This idea is excerpted from Barbara’s book “Balancing Acts: More Than 250 Guilt Free, Creative Ideas to Blend Your Work and Your Life” (Dearborn Trade Publishing, 2003)
Most of us will spend the majority of our lives working, at jobs both paid and unpaid. It is important that we help our children feel good about our work and thus about working in general. Here are some suggestions to give our kids a positive attitude about work:
- Select books to read about different jobs or professions. Richard Scarry’s word books are especially fun to read.
- Tell your children what you do for a living in language they can understand.
- When your children complain about the number of hours you work, remind them how they benefit by your working. Of course, the financial reward is a direct benefit, but you and your family gain from your experiences, the people you meet, the friends you make, and the places you travel.
- Try not to always blame your crankiness or tiredness on work. Let them know that work can also be stimulating, uplifting, and satisfying.
- Above all, try to make time for your children no matter how hard you work. Let them know that while you want to provide for them, they are more important than your job. Your children should never feel like they have to compete with your work.
