Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day

Today is Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day.

I’ve said before that I’m not sure what I think about the day as it has various meanings to different people. I think if you’re truly wanting to expose a young person to work or a particular profession there are other ways to do it.

I’m sure the original intent of the day is a good one, but don’t get me started about how we had to include “and Sons” (please note, I have 2 sons) because there’s really nothing wrong about making an occasion just for girls.

There’s an interesting take on the day by Helaine Olen in Newsday.

Olen suggests that working parents should take a day to model vacation and relaxation to children:

Yet in a world of home offices, moms on the playground taking business calls by cell phone, and dads answering queries on their BlackBerries at school events, it’s quite likely that children are all too aware of the importance of paid employment to their parents. What they really need is a lesson in the value of taking time to kick back and relax.

Take Our Daughters and Sons to the Beach Day?

I’m in.