Recently, I was asked to give a quick tip that I could share with busy working parents. My response was that I would implore busy working parents to remember that their real job, their most important job is to be a parent. As such, if there is ever a question about whether to put their job/business or their child first the answer is always a resounding “Child First”.
No Frills Working Parents Tip
Putting children first means that parents must love their children with purpose, intention, passion, urgency, authenticity and conviction. Society is marred when parents forget to parent or worse don’t learn how to be a parent. The aforementioned principles of purpose, intention, passion, urgency, authenticity and conviction are non-negotiable.
In regards to work, parents can find a new job if fired, parents can find new clients if old clients leave, parents can even start a new business if the present business falters but parents will find it much more difficult, if not impossible, to build and/or repair a relationship with a child that they ignored and/or neglected in favor of work. Parents are building a relational legacy – raising children that will fulfill their God-given potential and contribute to the betterment of society.
The children parents produce and the relationship our children have with the world is a legacy that will last for generations. Frankly, either our children help to make the world a better place or at best they simply make the world stand still. The universe only progresses when parents improve and nurture children who understand their responsibility to advance an evolving society.
The Question
So when a parent finds themselves having to make the choice between work and child, we need only ask “how do I want my obituary to read – great employee/employer that never missed a day at work or loving parent of great children who never missed a moment to be their child’s mother, father, friend, hero and role model”.
How have you historically answered the last question? If you haven’t considered the question, now is a good time to do so.
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