On Thursday, April 28, 2016, millions of workplaces, employees, parents and children celebrated the 23rd year anniversary of the Take Our Daughters And Sons To Work® Day program which encourages girls and boys across the country to dream without gender limitations and to think imaginatively about their family, work and community lives. This national, public education program connects what children learn at school with the actual working world. Children learn that a family-friendly work environment is an employer and family issue and not just a woman’s issue. Take Our Daughters And Sons To Work helps girls and boys across the nation discover the power and possibilities associated with a balanced work and family life (source).

It was the Thursday before Take Our Daughters And Sons To Work® Day, but I had no idea at the time when I picked up a call from my colleague, Mark Izsa who found that he had double-booked himself for the following week was asking if I could cover a presentation/training for him. I apologized and explained that my wife, Courtney would be out of town that day and so I would have to get the kids on the bus… there was simply no way I could get to Queens by 8am.

Later that night at home, I kept going through my mind how I could somehow cover for Mark and still get the kids off to school… when right at that moment my daughter Jacy asked, “Daddy can you take me and Jaxon to work next Thursday?” I replied, “Yes darling, I believe I can.”

I called Mark who loved the idea, but we would first need to check with Amanda at Grainger, who would need to check with Ernie at St. Albans VA Hospital. Everything checked out and the kids were pumped!

I explained to my daughter and son that this is work and that they were going to have to sit through a 3-hour Firestop Instructional Training (FIT Level 1) course and that there was going to be a test at the end, no kidding.

The following Thursday morning we all woke at the crack of dawn, got dressed, had a bite to eat and reviewed our PowerPoint. We stopped off at Dunkin Donuts for some treats because David Augello taught me to never show up empty handed. We arrived at the facility, set up our samples and the show was on.

Honestly, the time flew by and I’m not sure who had more fun, me or the kids (see picture ;-). Either way, it was awesome to be able to show them a small part of what Daddy does… and of course spending some extra time with loved ones is an added bonus. However, to be able to do that while at the same time helping out a co-worker in need was absolutely priceless.