The way we talk about work matters. When we say “I worked all day to provide for you,” we're not just describing our daily activities, we're shaping our children's understanding of the human experience. We're implying that work is a necessary sacrifice, a burden to be borne for the sake of others.

But what if we saw work as an expression of our humanity, a way to exercise our unique talents and abilities, to create and contribute to the world?

By reframing our language around work, we can help our children develop a more positive, more nuanced understanding of what it means to be alive, to be human. Let's teach them that work is not just a duty, but a delight, a way to live a life of purpose, meaning, and joy.