You want me to do MOMMY WORK?

Tonight, I started the beginning stages of a preschool project. It's an "All About Me" Poster that encourages kids to share more about themselves to their classmates. They creatively list their friends, their pets, their favorites (books, colors, foods) and what they want to be when they grow up.

My daughter's was due in October. (FYI: She wants to be a princess fairy when she grows up, so I expect this to change at least a few more times before she settles on something more concrete.) And now it's time to work on my son's All About Me Poster. When I asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up, he replied, "A fireman. A car guy." For those of you who aren't fluent with that rather specific dialect of "three-year-old-boy," that means he wants to be the guy DRIVING the firetruck. This was crushing news to my husband who has ambitions to become a police officer.

We tried to explain to the kids what WE do...Obviously, dad's job is way more exciting. They understood it better than mine. When I asked them if they want to do what I do, my son said, "You want us to do MOMMY WORK?"

"Well, I do more than just mommy work," I tried to explain. "Do you know what I do?"

"You do laundry," my daughter said.

"And she cooks, too," piped in my son.

"And she makes lunch," added my daughter.

"And breakfast, too," he said.

I'm a grant writer, so I attempted to explain at their level. "Well, I do all that. Aaaaaaand, I write letters to help people find money to help more people. Isn't that cool? Would you like to do that when you grow up?"

"That's not cool!" replied my son.

I wondered how could I have been working from home all this time (and griping at my husband that it sometimes feel like he's the only who has a REAL job around here) and for them to not know what I do? I've strived to ensure the kids have the most present kind of mom who's around nearly all the time to make them lunch, be here when they awake from their naps...and just BE here, that possibly I've forgotten to tell them about WHAT I'm doing.

I know what you're thinking. I can't expect a 5 year-old and and a 3 year-old to understand an occupation, let alone a vocation. But I think it's never too young to start inspiring kids (at least  mine) with an ambition and a drive to make a difference. This is one particular area where I think my parents excelled. It's important to find a career that rewards you financially, but that's just the beginning. I hope as they grow into adults, they'll be prepared to take on the world as individuals who strive for greatness and make a difference within their sphere of influence (however large or small that may become).