On Take Our Kids to Work Day, many parents opt to leave their children at home or in school, including myself. As a parenting editor, I understand the appeal of a brief escape from the daily chaos of parenting tasks like shoelace tying, mediating arguments, and nose wiping. While these responsibilities are essential, sometimes the office offers a much-needed reprieve from them.
My current work involves a lot of writing emails, attending meetings, and making phone calls—activities that tend to bore my kids when they see me do them at home, especially with distractions like TiVo and video games within reach. In the past, some of my workplaces made a big deal out of Take Our Kids to Work Day, but the activities rarely provided genuine insight into the nature of the jobs their parents held. For example, at my husband’s tech company, the children were simply put in a room to play video games, as most employees spent their day seated at computers.
After reflecting on this, I asked my children what jobs they wished I held instead on this special day. Here are the seven professions they would love for me to have:
- Sanitation Worker
This is the top pick for kids under six. I recall a moment when my son and I paused to watch a garbage truck, and the worker encouraged him to stay in school to avoid ending up like him. I jokingly told the worker that his job was a dream come true for my son. - Advice Columnist
According to my daughter, she would take over my role to write a column offering advice to everyone. I can’t say I’d mind this job either! - French Fry Station Operator at McDonald’s
My kids expressed a strong desire for me to work at McDonald’s just so they could assist me with fries. - Architect
My son finds the idea of designing buildings fascinating—especially the creative aspects like drafting plans and constructing model buildings. The inclusion of math and physics makes it even more appealing to him. - Retail Sales Associate
For those of us familiar with retail, we know it can be grueling work. Still, to kids, it seems exciting to work behind a counter and operate a cash register. - Subway Driver
The thought of driving massive underground trains sounds thrilling to them. - Zookeeper
Naturally, almost every child dreams of the chance to feed seals and care for animals.
In summary, while our children may have fantastical ideas about our jobs, they remind us of the importance of play and imagination in their lives. For more insights on related topics, consider exploring resources on fertility and home insemination, such as this article for reliable information, or check out this post to keep engaged. Additionally, if you’re interested in enhancing fertility, Make a Mom offers valuable supplements that might help.