If you have a child above the age of two, you’ll appreciate that role models come in all shapes and sizes, and from some very unlikely places. My children have embraced as role models everyone from Sid the Science Kid to our favorite barista and everyone in between, including the odd dinosaur. Children look up to people who are smart, funny, and talented. Occasionally they may look up to people or characters who are less than ideal but, thankfully, most role models are transient. The role model who remains a constant in the lives of our children is me. And you.
Yes, their mothers. The women who wash their laundry, make their meals, and get them to school on time. They who kiss boo-boos, dry tears, and offer advice – even when it isn’t asked for. More importantly, they who are creative, resourceful, innovative, and determined. Nowhere are these characteristics more visible than when we’re at work, whether that be away from the home or at the kitchen table.
Today, more than half of mothers in the United States are working mothers. Our workplace qualities may or may not overlap with traditional maternal qualities, but they are equally important to the development of our children.
In a society that embraces, and research supports, the apple not falling far from the tree, allowing our children to see us at work is one of the more important things we can do as parents. The same leadership qualities appreciated in the workplace are appreciated in the classroom and on the field: integrity, the ability to communicate, empathy, decisiveness, accountability and confidence. When we model those qualities and behaviors we are setting our children up for success, but only if they see us.
Can we take our children to work with us every day? No. Do we want to? Also, no.
There’s another tactic we can utilize: talking with them about what we do at work. Tell them about a deal gone wrong or an amazing win; describe how the situation was handled. Take the time to explain projects, problem-solving ideas, and exciting opportunities. Invite their input: give them the opportunity to stretch their leadership wings at a young age and in a safe place. Encourage them to exercise the qualities we prize so highly.
One of my proudest moments as a mother came last month; my kids were spending the day at work with me. To be completely honest, this usually means they are down the block at Blip Roasters. My oldest burst into our space at Firebrand Collective, exclaiming “Mom! I bought a hot chocolate all on my own!” Naturally, I wanted to know how – he hadn’t started the day out with any cash.
He looked at me proudly and said, “They let me mop the floor to earn it.” He identified what he wanted, made a plan to get it, and then followed through, earning his reward: the sweetest cup of hot chocolate yet.
Many conversations with mentors at some point include the phrase “If I knew then what I know now…”. As mothers, we have the wonderful chance to model the traits we want our children to embrace from beginning. Why not show them the full picture and watch them soar?
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Megan Hemphill is the founder and CEO of Firebrand Collective, Kansas City’s female-focused coworking space. Her mission is simple: to enable women to build thriving careers alongside a strong, like-minded community. She lives in Leawood, Kansas with her three children and a coffee pot that runneth over.
