Lessons from parenting and how they translate into the workplace

Moms and dads who spend a few years staying at home full-time to care for their kids sometimes worry about re-entering the workforce.

First, there’s a gap in their resume. Second, by staying at home instead of going to an office or participating in conferences and other professional gatherings, they’ve also missed out on networking opportunities.

But most of all, they worry about what their potential employers might think about the fact that they’ve devoted the last few years to their families and household. After all, how do playdates, doing laundry, volunteering at school, cooking meals, driving kids to soccer, etc., prepare you for a career?

Many would argue that parenting and running a household can actually provide valuable training for the work that takes place every day in offices, clinics, newsrooms and other workplaces. Moms and dads who may not be earning a paycheck are using the same skills that are needed in the workforce – they’re the ones who help organize school fundraisers, manage multiple schedules, volunteer at schools and other community groups, balance the household budget and care for the well-being of people.

A recent blog post at The Wall Street Journal made some parallels between parenting and the business world. Good parenting is like good management, according to Patrick Lencioni, a management consultant and author of “The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable.”

Here’s a question for parents who have worked part-time or who have spent an extended period of time outside the workforce to take care of children: What did you learn by staying at home and how did these skills and lessons prepare you to re-enter the workforce?