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Working for a Living

Telling Children about Your Job

By Carma Haley Shoemaker

"Even if a parent feels their job is not something that should be shared with their children, for whatever reason, sharing the basics about what you do -- I dance, I help people or I protect people -- offers a child a basic insight into their parent's life," says Berkeley. "When a parent doesn't offer any information about what they do, a child may begin to build an image of their own and whether right or wrong, they will believe it whole heartedly. On the same note, if a parent expresses only negative actions or comments regarding their job, a child will pick up on these negativities and will begin to build the belief that work is bad and no one likes their work."

Regardless of the job, there are ways to express the essence of what you do to a child without having to share the inappropriate details. As a parent knows their child best, they will be able to decide what is appropriate and what is not. "Every job serves some kind of purpose," says Michelle Smith, a mother and writer from Chico, Calif. "I am sure that it is harder to explain some jobs more than others, but honest work is nothing to be ashamed of. I think that a parent should give the child a basic idea of what they do. As the child gets older and asks questions, they can elaborate. I think that they will let you know when they want more information. For example, some of what I write is erotica. I don't tell my kids that I write stories with sex in them, but I do tell them that they cannot read some of what I write -- that it's just for adults."

Want to see more?

• More Than a Job: Managing Your Career and Pregnancy
• Join the discussion on our Family.com community!
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