A Baby in the Workplace

In addition to the work I do with First Steps, I work parttime at First United Methodist Church as the Associate Minister to Children. Ijob share with an incredibly talented, organized, and dedicated woman who isseveral years younger than I am. She just gave birth to her third child.

Before the baby was born, we had lots of meetings aboutwhether or not she could bring her baby to work with her. We decided to tryit…actually, I had been able to bring my first baby to work with me 21 yearsbefore…so I knew I would be okay with it and believe in it!

I wanted to Blog about this because I want to publically sayhow happy I am that she brings her baby to work with her. First of all…the babyis so sweet and her energy is all over our space! There is just a joy that wasnot there before she came to work!

Second…she is honestly, no problem at all. She sleeps, coos,and smiles…and when she cries, which is rare (and I honestly believe it isbecause she is with her mother and so secure!) her mom meets her needs and wego on.

Third, we all know that babies need their mommies I theseearly years. Without the flexibility of allowing her mom to bring her to work,her mom would have been forced to quit a job she loves, take her gifts and talentshome, or limited her hours to only the hours she is specified to work…andbecause we allow her bring her baby, she is with us, doing important ministry,using her gifts and talents and being a loving, present mother to the baby whoneeds her.

I know there are workplaces where children could not bepresent…but there are sooo many places where they could. We simply do not allowit…and I call each of us to consider it. It has blessed my life more than these words can express and having ababy at your workplace will do the same!