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Over the past decade or so, the practice of mothers taking their children to the work place has become more commonplace. While it may not be a daily thing, but more of an occasional thing, it appears that many mothers see the office as a suitable place to bring their kids under certain circumstances, such as if the babysitter unexpectedly calls in sick.

My strong opinion is that children do not belong in the work place. For starters, many children these days seem completely undisciplined by their parents. We, as a result, are expected to just put up with children's often out-of-control behavior on airplanes, in restaurants, at movie theaters and even at church.

In our politically correct world, we must tolerate it when children who are old enough to know better behave badly. Otherwise, we may offend someone if we say anything remotely critical of the children's actions behavior! Somewhere, a line must be drawn and one of those cases is at work.

At the office, boundaries should be set and maintained. Children absolutely do not belong in this grown-up environment. The office is a place in which adults are supposed to be fully committed to their performance for the company. They should not be distracted by looking after their kids, far less by the antics of other people's children!

Working mothers need to remember that having full-time employment is a choice, as well as an obligation and a privilege. If they make the choice to work full time and are also parents, then part of meeting their work commitment is planning for day care or after-school programs for their children during working hours. It really is that simple.

They should also keep in mind that having a job is a privilege. It was not that long ago when women, for example, were not even allowed in the work place. Working mothers should not take advantage of this privilege by trying to impose selfish and unreasonable expectations on their employers, including bringing their children to work at any time. There should be no exceptions.

As someone who was not even allowed to sell Girl Scouts cookies at her dad's office in order to avoid imposing on anyone, it is almost unfathomable to me that people now want to take their children to the office with them. It is just one more example of the self-centered approach so many people take in this me, me, me culture.
It really is a sad state of affairs when people think only of having their needs, and not how their choices may impact others. It seems to me that women who take their kids to work are indeed guilty of this slight.

Learn more about this author, Ann E. Smith.
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