Last week we had Bring Your Children to Work Day. My co-worker across the cube hallway brought his children, then participated in Leave Your Children At Work While You Go To a Meeting Day. His children had been well-behaved while he was there, I don’t quite know because ignored them.
I have enough difficulty with adult human interaction. I’m able to hurt grownup feelings, when there are children involved you can take the hurt feelings and egos and quadruple them.
So he left for a meeting. When co-worker was away the kids would play. They were doing some in-cube wresting when the cubemate on the other side popped his head over the divider and mock-threatened, “Hey you kids, settle down. Don’t make me come over there.”
I thought, it takes a village. And the village border runs right next to my cubicle. Don’t talk to the kids.
Then the kids started pulling and pushing each other out of the cubicle. Then they ventured into the hallway by me. Then they began to look up and down the hallway.
I lifted my head, fixed my gaze on them, and said, “I will call security.”
Oh! The young ones eyes got very wide. The older one just stepped back into his cube and dragged his brother back there.
All was quiet for ten minutes, until I heard the younger whisper to his brother that he had to go to the bathroom. I wondered if there was some rule that if an adult scares the crap out of you then she has to take you to the bathroom. I glanced over at them and smiled. They just stared at me. Then I nodded, and the little kid darted off for the bathroom (or to do heroin in the stairwell).
A few minutes later his brother followed. I have no idea where they were for the next ten minutes, but then they showed up with their father, packed up at four o’ clock and left.
Would have been fine. Would have been fine if he’d left someone in charge, or even taken them with him. Sigh.
10 responses to “Bring Your Children to Work Day”
What might have been a useful thing has been turned into office day-care. I call it “Bring Your Demon Spawn to Work Day.” Everything’s fine when the little darlings are locked up in a conference room but at some point, they are always set loose to wreak havoc on the rest of the company.
And what does that teach them? That once they grow up and get a job, they’ll be left unsupervised in a cube, free to do what they like as long as it doesn’t make noise? That’s only 50% true.
I hate bring your kids to work day. I’m dreading a few years from now when the current crop of larvae are old enough to come to work with their parents. Give me quiet!!!
I would have quietly egged the kids on and THEN called security. Hehe.
I dragged mine to a meeting and gave her a notepad. Later I found that she had drawn pictures of the clock every 5 minutes and wrote notes like “meatloaf is my life.” At least, I think that’s what it said. Spelling is not her strong point (yet).
Becs – Yes, I liked it when it was daddies celebrating “Bring your daughter to work day.” That made sense. “You can do this job too.” Now it’s “This is why mommy can’t come home when you call” day.Tami – I remember that episode of the Wonder Years when Kevin goes to work with his dad. And he gets to watch the boss treat his dad like dirt. That’s a real Take Your Child to Work Day.Amy in StL – Quiet? There was a child on our floor who was taken out to the stairwell when she started her screaming tantrum. Echoed across the building.Zayrina – An excellent plan. But then, I would have to explain myself. The co-worker has not said anything and this happened a few days ago. I think I’m safe.Caroline – Tell her that bacon is her life. (Caroline’s daughter does not like bacon. I say it’s a rare enzyme deficiency. Caroline should get ready for the slow-motion eye close on Mystery Diagnosis.)
@Queen – I remember that episode! Kevin (?) turned to his dad and said, “When did you decide you wanted to be a procurement manager, Dad?” Killed me. Also made me think about my own career path. Obviously to no avail.
Gotta say, I never brought mine to work until they were old enough to behave and to be put to work at something. As a lab manager, I’d quick tour the lab with them, ask anyone willing to talk their project to them, and then sit them in my office stuffing pipette tip boxes or some such for others. People still ask if they can come visit and they are in high school and I don’t work there anymore, hahaha! Then again, I beat them regularly when they were small (juuuuust kidding!).
You have trouble with adult human interaction? Bullshit. You met me at Ted Drewes and you made me laugh and you gave me clogs. :PAlso, I love that you gave those kids the Fixed Gaze. I would have done the same thing. and I like kids, but yanno, “Boundaries” are my love language.
Becs – Yep, Kevin, Kevin Arnold.Mare – I know I spent every day at moms office for one summer. I think I was 11. But yes, I had filing to do. That’s the thing, these kids need to work at work. Produce!Erin G – I have trouble interacting with stupid humans. Not you guys!