Job One, Job Two

From FOCUS ON THE FAMILY, Today, 04-Apr-2008 edition

 

JOB ONE, JOB TWO

By Dr James Dobson

 

Raising kids and earning a living; these are two major tasks

of life for many of us.

 

We assume that they have to be done one at a time. We work

an eight-hour shift or longer, and then we head home to take up

our other job of cooking meals and helping with the housework,

and making sure the kids do their chores.

 

But wouldn’t it be nice if we could accomplish both tasks at once?

Is there any way to blend a job and our parenting role?

The truth is that this separation of work hasn’t always been

the case.

 

Before the Industrial Revolution, most kids got to watch

their parents earn a living. The shop was right there

in their home.

 

What about the rest of us who spend our days in offices

and factories? We can still bring home samples of what

we do, like papers and pictures that give a child a window

into our work.

 

We can arrange for family tours. We can welcome their

stopping by for a short visit, instead of always being too busy.

 

After all, the kids will sooner or later have to learn where money

comes from – and who better to teach them than us? Labour is a

reality of life, and there’s no sense keeping it behind the curtain.