WHEN CHILDREN TURN COLLEAGUES, IT IS CALLED PARENTHOOD, MENTORSHIP, MODELLING & LEGACY

In every holiday, the children become our colleagues. 😂

Yes! they they don't just come to Mum and Dad’s workplace to pass time. They become interns (Senior and Junior Apprentice) with opportunity to experience, participate in and learn from the work Dad and Mum do.

They watch Dad and Mum work, ask questions, take on tasks and interacts with the team. They attend team meetings and sometimes given opportunity to lead some.They work on deadlines, engage in problem solving, decisions and the everyday realities behind what Dad and Mum do. And honestly, there is something beautiful about carrying our children along as we go about the work we do.

Despite that parenthood and work can sometimes feel like two completely different worlds especially when the work we do demands our time, attention and energy, we need to realise that we do not always have to choose between spending time with our children and getting work done. We bring them along which means we don't miss each other as much because we are busy working together as colleagues, 😂learning, contributing and having their own experience.

And oh yes, we realized that keeping the children busy with us also takes away idealness and they get to see that what Dad and Mum build do not happen by magic. They see the effort put in behind the results. They see that sometimes we have to think, make decisions, solve problems, start again and keep going when things do not go exactly as planned. They begin to understand that Mum and Dad are not simply busy but are building something and while building together with them, they are also building capacity at a young age, getting exposure to things that can prepare them for the future, learning work ethics and how to relate with people. They also get to learn responsibility, teamwork, problem solving and initiative. And most importantly, they are learning that when you have an idea, you do not just talk about it, you work on it.

Experience have thought us that parents should not only want their children to hear them talk about purpose, leadership, service and building something meaningful. Instead, let the children see it, ask questions, experience it and also understand that meaningful work takes commitment and that ideas require action. This is because parenthood becomes one of the first places where mentorship happens.

Before our children learn from classrooms, workplaces or formal mentors, they are watching us.

They watch how we work, lead, treat people and how we respond when things do not go as planned. They watch how we pursue our dreams, serve others and keep showing up. And for me, that is where modelling becomes powerful. Mentorship is not only about what we teach, but about what we model, and modelling is part of legacy.

So, legacy is not only what we leave behind when we are gone, sometimes, it's what we build into the people coming after us. It is the values, the courage, the capacity, the confidence and the understanding that they too can build something meaningful.

So yes, Holidays are also times to become our children's colleagues🥳 ❤️ But perhaps something even more significant that happens is that we spent time together, work together, learn together and laughed together. And while we were busy building together, they were also learning to become more innovative than us. And as a result, they have glimpse into the legacy we are building and become part of its story.

Now, my dear colleagues, it is time to go back to school! 😂📚 As you resume, take the lessons with you, keep learning, keep asking questions and keep growing for God's glory.🙏🏽

For it's not ONE DAY but NOW, you understand why Mum and Dad were busy building things and you appreciate that because their being busy, instead of creating vacuum, it creats opportunities for you to be together, learn and build capacity together ahead of what lies ahead of us all❤️

Now it's safe to say #Holidays are about #Parenthood #Mentorship #Modelling and #Legacy