Take Your Child To Work Day Brings Out the Awkward in Coworkers
It's also the day you see just how awkward your coworkers are.
My parents never really took us into work for this day...mostly because when my mom went back to work, it was in a school, and my brother and I had spent enough summer days in my dad's auto body shop to know what his day was like.
Now that I'm older...but not yet a parent, this day is a whole new experience.
For the most part, I like kids, but there are a lot of times when I just can't figure out what to say to a 7, 10, or 12-year-old without feeling like a huge weirdo and/or that 'grownup who's trying too hard.'
My job is easier when it comes to the youngins, because they usually think being on the radio is cool, and kids of ALL ages have a favorite song.
Other jobs though? Not as lucky.
Considering how incredibly awkward I can be around kids, here's some advice for parents when you bring your kids into the office, just to make things easier for everyone:
- Pawning off your kids on another coworker without asking beforehand is NOT okay. Nobody wants to play babysitter...no matter how much 'cool stuff there is to play with' in their office.
- Some of your coworkers may not like children. Don't judge. Kids aren't for everyone.
- Plan something for your kid to do. Whiny child = whinier coworkers.
- Don't bring more children than you can handle. One child is probably fine. One child + four of her friends? Everyone in your office now hates you.
It's great to teach kids about all the different possible careers they have to choose from. It's not so great for the wildly awkward people you work with -- just bear with us weirdos, we're trying to figure out what to say, okay?