Skip to content

J. Lo took her daughter to work. You should too

For many football fans, watching the Kansas City Chiefs take a late comeback win against the San Francisco 49ers was the obvious highlight of this year’s Super Bowl game, but for me (a non-follower of football), the halftime show was the most memorab
ba5d3ad1bb1291df21807ab09f1790b4985e29dc.jpg
'Hustlers' stars (L-R) Keke Palmer, Cardi B, Jennifer Lopez, and Constance Wu as strippers who turn the tables on wealthy businessmen during the financial crisis

For many football fans, watching the Kansas City Chiefs take a late comeback win against the San Francisco 49ers was the obvious highlight of this year’s Super Bowl game, but for me (a non-follower of football), the halftime show was the most memorable part.

The performance was packed with powerful messages as Shakira and Jennifer Lopez took to the stage - the first Latinas to ever lead a Super Bowl half-time show in this history of the sporting event. Both women proved themselves to be talented, strong, and absolutely stunning. Two moms, both over 40, showed the world that collaboration is more powerful than competition, and they nailed it.

But most touching of all, was the appearance made by Emme Muniz - daughter of JLo and her ex-husband Marc Anthony, who joined her mother on stage and stole the show with her spot-on singing. And as I watched her perform, it hit me. JLo was making history, and celebrating a career highlight, and she was sharing her work - and her moment - with her daughter.

We aren’t all triple-threat superstars, but many of us parents have jobs that are a big part of our lives and who we are, and we should share that with our kids.

April 23 marks the annual Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day - a day designed to give our kids a glimpse into the working world, and the concept is a mutually beneficial idea that should happen more often.

As a work-from-home mom, my kids have grown up watching me work. They see how hard I work, and how passionate I am about what I do, and they see the benefits I reap from being my own boss. As a result, we’ve had open conversations about work ethics, following our interests and working hard to achieve our goals.

My kids have also been to my husband’s place of work, where they’ve seen him get hands-on at his occupation. It’s good for them to see firsthand what he does for a living, and watch him interact with his coworkers, too.

Exposing your children to your work side teaches them why education matters, it helps you bond, and it offers a chance for immersive learning.

On Sunday, JLo brought her daughter to work, and after seeing Emme perform live, she just might follow in her mother’s footsteps. And who knows, after watching you work and experiencing it with you side-by-side, perhaps your child will feel inspired to follow in your footsteps as well.

Bianca Bujan is a mom of three, Editor of WestCoast Families magazine, and a freelance writer who shares about travel, family, and food in various major print and online publications. Find her on Twitter @biancabujan and Instagram @bitsofbee.