For the last 3 or 4 years we have had a tradition at our home. Before school starts the boys get to join me at the office for a day at work. They each get their own time, so there's no fighting. I think the thing that they love the most is the breakfast.
We go into the office for an hour or so and then we walk down to Lamb's Grill Restaurant.
If you are not familiar, it's one of the oldest restaurants in the state. Been in business since 1919. Some of the same utensils are still being used. Actually, that may not be true, but what may be true is that some of the original waiters are still there. But it's a great old place, the kind of place that makes you want to spell old like this: OLDE. 
It has look that is absolutely depression era: lots of bread lines, unemployed brokers, failed bankers, etc. Quaint booths that are still a little small for the typical human born after World War II. The lighting and decor, as you can see, make me feel like I am in a Batman movie. A little "Now-tro", as it were. So "then" - that it's "now". The kids love it. They order pancakes and doughnuts and chocolate milk and we sit together and talk about the summer and what the school year is going to be like. In all honesty, it's my favorite part of the day too. I need to take more opportunities like that.
Then it's all business after that. The filing, the runs to get water, the trashing, the runs to get copies, the desk organizing, the runs to get stuff off the printer. Then I have work for the kids, too. Actually, without having them here to comment, I don't know how much they really care what I am doing at work, they just want to be there. With me. Which makes me very, very proud. Not in a negative way, the good proud. Where you count your blessings.
The other best part of the day is seeing everyone at the office react to little kids dressed up and following me around. Maybe it's because they are used to seeing me with much shorter clients. Brayden actually picked that suit out at DI. He wanted to wear a suit this year because he wanted to look "professional", not "cute". I made a note of that and passed it along to my assistant, making sure she used that when he came to work.
To quote one of the masters of sentimental lyric -
Time it was and what a time it was. It was a Time of innocence, a time of confidences. Long ago, it must be, I have a photograph. Preserve your memories, they're all that's left you.
7 comments:
We used to go 'checking buses' with dad - see if they were on time, write down how many riders were on each. I still remember driving around at night with Jolene and I in our p.j.'s in the back of the car. If we were good, we'd get a 'dilly bar' at the end. 'Anything' is a good time with your dad.
What a great tradition. Oh, and I LOVE LAMBS!!! I'm now going to have to go there next time I'm in town. Your a great Dad.
What an awesome tradition. I loved going to work with my Dad! For me, that entailed driving all over the place with him and going to some very posh houses and cabins to fix fireplaces. I remember, one time we even had to snowmobile in to a cabin to repair the fireplace. That was excellent!
Yes, I loved going to my dad's office. I think it was there that my love of paper clips, post-it notes, and push pins was born. Oh, and I remember getting to print out something on "the computer" each time we went to his office. We usually chose to print out a picture of snoopy. The printing took about 30 minutes and came out in all capital X's.
Fun. Hey, can I come to work with you, too? I would love to eat at an "Olde" restaurant and then dress up and have people think I'm cute because let's be honest, someone needs to think so, well, someone besides Hubert. But I think he says it out of obligation. I mean, how cute can I be when he gets home and I'm still in my pajamas? Wow, that was a tangent.
That is a heart-warming and awesome tradition. Your boys look more grown-up, too! Maybe next year you can give your boys a run at managing our portfolio for the day?! Great to see you and your boys--timo
I remember the time that I got to put on a tie and go to work with you guys. We went and got hot chocolate and rice crispy treats. then we went to lunch. It really is a great tradition.
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