When Take Our Daughters To Work Day started (I can't remember if it was
Ms. Magazine or Lifetime tv who started it) the intent was to empower
girls, to show them what a successful career could look like. It was a
grassroots thing and it really struck a chord with me. It was
absolutely something I'd want to do for my daughter.

Fast-forward to now. I have a pretty decent job and lo and behold, a
daughter who amazes me anew every single day. My company throws a
gigantic to-do for this day, only now it's interpreted as a giant
fucking party, complete with more than one bounce house, a fleet of
balloon animal 'artists,' a gift bag that includes a blowup ball and the
only sort of redeeming thing: a badge just like mine, only with Val's
cuteass picture on it.

As Val and I waded through the crowds gathered at the carnival games,
past the bounce house and free water bottles, the feminist in me shook
her head at this. It is not what the intent was, the founders surely
didn't envision little kids trying to knock down plastic bottles or a
sea of popcorn being popped. No, I'd imagine they pictured little girls
and bigger girls alike sitting with their moms in meetings, helping them
work through the pitfalls of a typical work day.

Though it sounds nice, I can assure you that my typical workday does not
include face painting or temporary tattoos.

I do hear that the afternoon program for the older kids features a long
presentation about our company, so that's closer.

Val was there for all of an hour, she sat nicely at my desk writing with
every marker and pen I have while I wrapped up some work. By the time
we braved the registration table, the place was packed, wall-to-wall
kids and parents waiting in longass lines. It was almost impossible to
get back through my building to the lobby.

We went out for a nice panera lunch and she was so wiped out that she
konked out on the way home, then stayed down for 2 hours. Realizing that
almost everyone at work was knee-deep in face painting and afternoon
movies, I logged in for a while, then took a nap myself.

Not a bad way to spend an afternoon, but still not what it was meant to
be.