Who of you actually knows why I started MamsatWork? For me, my blog - even before it became my company - was my outlet. As a full-time working mother, 15 years ago, I didn't really fit in with the stereotypical examples of fathers and mothers. I wasn't home much when Luc was a baby and toddler. Frank took Luc to the nursery and picked him up again. I had already left at 06.30 and did not return home until around 19.15 in the evening. Just before bedtime. Every weekday.
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And how often I have commented on that. When Luc was young, but also after school, I felt like an outsider. Every mother was in the schoolyard a few days a week. Dropping children off, picking up children, catching up with other mothers. It was different for me. I still worked 4 days a week in Vianen and one day a week at home. That one day I did take Luc away, but I immediately disappeared, only to pick him up again - just in the nick of time - at the end of the day.
It suited our lives at the time, but understanding from the outside world was scarce. Why do you start having children if you work all day? A question that I regularly got thrown at my head. But why did Frank never get that question? Didn't he work full time too? That's something I've never understood, why does 'people' make a distinction here? Fortunately, in the books of Mo's Daughters, they approach this differently, more about that below.
A wonderful concept, the books of Mo's Daughters. It triggered me to write this blog and I fully support their mission. Breaking the stereotypes that we give our children from an early age. I'll explain it to you.
In the first years of their lives, children form a picture of what boys and girls can do, what they 'may' and how they 'should' behave. For example, boys soon receive toys in the form of cars or something similar and girls dolls to play with. In addition, in the Netherlands it is simply the case that women still take on the majority of household tasks. We unconsciously pass on this image to our children. Who says a boy can't be a house man or a girl a truck driver? Boys who play with dolls and girls who build, there's nothing wrong with that, is there?
By the time children enter grade 3, they have already formed a clear picture of what it means to be a girl or a boy. By the time they are 10 years old, the stereotypes are already deeply ingrained. And from the age of 6, children believe that intelligence is a quality that belongs to boys and not so much to girls. How bizarre is that! When I read that (source:Nu.nl) my blood starts to bubble slowly. It can't be true that we (no doubt unintentionally) give these signals to our children?
And although I am amazed at this, I see it all around me. Social media in particular plays an enormous role in this, unfortunately.
The books of Mo's Daughters can be found here, there are 10 beautifully illustrated books to read with all girls in the lead who experience the beautiful adventures.
Research shows that unfortunately only 20% of the best-selling children's books in the Netherlands aged 0-6 years have a girl in the leading role. In the remaining part, boys play the main role. I think that's a missed opportunity.
Furthermore, it appears that in only 13% of children's books mom has a job, not to mention stereotypical examples! And then we are only talking about 'work' and not about the behavior that also takes on quite stereotypical forms. For example, girls are especially beautiful and sweet, or, for example, very quickly scared in the relevant children's books. But not at Mo's!
Mo's Daughters deliberately puts an end to this with its books. Stereotype examples are avoided and girls play the main role. You go girls!
My favorite book from Mo's Daughters is 'Cato and the lamp'. It's about the light in the fridge and the question that every child has probably thought of at one time or another. Does this light always stay on? It was great to read how Cato tackles this question and conducts all kinds of experiments to check what is true. Because mom and dad are of little use to her if she asks.
Also nice:every book starts with a page aimed at all children in the world and girls in particular. With a very nice message!
If you would like to get acquainted with the books of Mo's Daughters, we have something nice for you. We can give away a package with books to an enthusiast! Like MamsatWork and Mo's Daughters on Facebook and comment below why you would like to receive these books. The promotion runs until October 23, 2019.
My mother was a housewife, my father a fighter jet pilot. There are hardly any better stereotypical examples than that 😉 . Yet central to our upbringing was that we all had equal opportunities (and obligations). For example, I learned to fix my bicycle tires from my father, and also learned how to change a car tire. My mother didn't work, but didn't miss a moment letting me know that I had to build my own life later. Charting my own path. And that I shouldn't let anything stop me. So a bit à la Mo's Daughters. She had always wanted to work, but never got the chance. She was the first woman in Zwijndrecht with her driving license, which was cool!
I think you as a parent have an obligation to your children. Provide a safe environment in which every child can develop in the way that suits him or her. Not based on stereotypes or gender, but based on interests and talent. So feel free to let your son walk in a dress, play with dolls or paint his nails if he wants to. And let your daughter sniff around in the world of technology with great pleasure, as we recently did at the Generation Discover Festival. In this way they only get closer to 'themselves'.
Lotte, for example, indicated a few years ago that she wanted to become a hairdresser (huh?), but now her interests lie in other areas. In any case, a working mother is no more than normal for her and she also understands that she can do whatever she wants in the field of work later on.
My children therefore do not recognize any stereotype in their parents, except that I am at home a lot. I think the latter is a bit of a shame, because with this I 'unconsciously' send out the signal that mom is (almost) always at home. And that goes against all my emancipated feelings!
But … it is provided that you do what suits you and in my case that is working from home within my own company.
