Your kids will primarily define their attitude towards work from…YOU. What are you teaching them?
I had a wake-up call recently when I was talking with one of my kids about their thoughts about the future. I asked what kind of emotions came up for them when they thought or we talked about work specifically. He commented, “I guess it does feel pretty stressful—I just want to find a job that kind of sucks the least, you know?”
I waited a few moments, unsure how to respond, until it hit me. I replied, “I’m not sure if you know this, but I absolutely love working. I go to work nine out of ten days and feel grateful and excited to be there.” Whatever message I had given about my attitude towards work over the years, he had no clue that it was positive.
Here are a few different points of view people have towards work. Look at them, and mark the ones you resonate the most with. (It’s not an exhaustive list, nor should you feel limited by how they’re worded.)
Your point of view toward work will determine, in large part, your experience. Like many things in life, it’s not fixed, either. Not only do you have the chance to change your attitude, but you can also choose the one that works best for you each and every day.
Our kids deserve an opportunity to be guided in exploring and selecting a point of view toward work that will most likely benefit them and contribute to their thriving.
Chances are, their current perspective toward work is similar to their experience at school. And since many, if not most, students feel like their experience at school is some version of pointless, they need to rethink their perspective. They need you to help them.
How do you guide your kid to a better, more helpful point of view toward work? Here’s what I’m doing:
I hope my kids will also learn to love the work they get to do when they get older. I don’t want them to have to “work for the weekend” or wait until retirement to pursue their interests and dreams. What about you?
Did you know we post new weekly YouTube episodes on essential tips and skills every parent needs to guide their kids to launch confidently into adulthood? Click here to subscribe.
Get the Critical Foundations Book
Besides keeping your kids healthy and safe, what else can you do to ensure they'll become happy and successful adults? With the time you have with themā€”downtime, drive time, meal time, and bedtime, what will YOU do to engage them intentionally?Ā
Each week, we'll send you an actionable tip on how to engage more with your kids, whether they're 8 or 18.
Ā