April 21st,2008

The Business Channel - and Its Readers - Grow Up

By Kelly Erb

When I was a little girl, I announced to my parents that I wanted to be in a pageant - it was, after all, the South.

Years later, I found out that my mother had written in her journal:

Kelly came home from school today and wants to be in a pageant. I don’t know what she will do as she has no talent.

Today, I know what she meant. While many of my peers had spent years in tap, ballet, jazz and vocal lessons, I had not. We were not well off and we did not have the money for expensive lessons.

But that’s not what my mother said to me. To me, she said simply, “Yes.”

I went on to win second place in the Little Miss Pender County Pageant (my talent, in case you were wondering was to sing Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious - with a lisp), despite having no formal lessons or training.

That is the amazing thing about my mother. She does not come from a fancy or well to do background. And we didn’t have a lot. She did not have a “rock star” job. And yet, it didn’t stop her from letting me dream. She was, quite frankly, the person who made me think that I could do anything. And I mean anything.

If you check my byline now, you’ll see that I didn’t become Nancy Drew, girl detective; a shortstop for the Atlanta Braves; Whitney Houston (thank God for small miracles) or Perry Mason (though I came pretty close). But at no time did I ever believe that those things were not in my reach. That’s because my parents - and especially my mom - always encouraged me, and gave me the confidence to follow my dreams.

This week, we will celebrate Take Our Sons Daughters and Sons to Work Day (April 24). I hope that you take the time - regardless of whether you’re a parent, an uncle or aunt, or just a really good friend - to introduce a child to a world of possibilities. You don’t have to do anything fancy. My mom wasn’t a NASA scientist, she wasn’t a spy for the CIA and she didn’t pilot an airplane. She was a mom - a terrific mom who packed our lunches, gave us kisses and sent us off to school with the idea that we could become anything that we wanted.

I went on to be the first person in my family to graduate college, the first person to graduate from law school (twice). And it wasn’t a lawyer that inspired me. Or someone in a fancy robe. It was my mom, who gave me the idea that I could do absolutely anything. I owe a lot to her.

Children learn from experience. Whether you’re a parent, a grandparent, an aunt or uncle, a family friend… children are watching. Be the person that inspires them.

For a glimpse of inspirational statements from our readers over the past few weeks, visit these winning posts for Take Our Sons and Daughters to Work Day (April 24). Every comment that you leave on one of these posts counts as a vote. The reader who penned the post listed below (important! comments on linked posts don’t count!) resulting in the most comments by April 30 wins - and the blogger wins a little something, too.

Let us know your favorite post by commenting. You can comment as many times as you like so long as each comment is original (and not spammy).

Biz Chicks Rule

Brandcurve

Business and Blogging

Greener Assets

Interview Chatter

One Vote Matters

Pimp Your Work

Successful Blog

taxgirl

The Golden Pencil

Enjoy Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day… and psst, thanks Mom!

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The Conversation

Kristen King on April 21st, 2008 at 05:59

Kelly, I think I would like your mom. :)

kk

Kelly on April 21st, 2008 at 07:05

Thanks Kristen!

Liz Strauss on April 21st, 2008 at 07:23

Beautiful story. Thank your mom for me too. Without her I wouldn’t know you. :)

Christina Jones on April 21st, 2008 at 07:39

What a precious story Kelly - and awesome posts from your team. :)

b5media Business Channel Grows Up on April 21st, 2008 at 07:50

[…] can see all of the entries from the finalists here (and learn about my pageant […]

Vote for Me! Vote for Kristin! Vote for… on April 21st, 2008 at 13:57

[…] the Business Channel is having a contest called What I Want To Be in celebration of take your kid to work day. (Geeze this is going to get […]

Lori on April 21st, 2008 at 14:04

My daughter went through the “I want to be a model” phase. She was a chubby pre-teen with out-of-control curly hair, and was gawkiness personified. But darned if I didn’t drive her to the tryouts and console her in the car and top it off with a milkshake and a hug. It was her dream. What’s worse - letting them sink or telling them they’re silly for believing in something?

She’s a beauty now, and she has no intention of being a model. She’d much rather be a writer. :)

You Be The Judge, and Other Matters on April 21st, 2008 at 17:02

[…] (You can find links to the entries of all the finalists in the Bring Your Sons and Daughters to Work competition here.) […]

Mihaela Lica on April 21st, 2008 at 17:28

Is your entry part of the competition? Because you definitely get my vote!

Matt Keegan on April 22nd, 2008 at 05:13

What a terrific story. Even though your mother may not have seen the talent within, she let you try to find your interests and pursue your dreams. Looks like your flair for story telling is blossoming.

Kelly on April 22nd, 2008 at 08:01

Lori,
Kudos to you.
I also entered Seventeen magazine’s cover model contest - my mom drove me to the mall to enter. I was chubby, glasses and a perm. But I had so much fun, though. My best friend and I spent hours figuring out what to wear, how to do our hair, etc.
Not every kid will be a super model or a recording artist or a great novelist. But I think part of growing up is figuring that out on your own.

Kelly on April 22nd, 2008 at 08:03

Thanks Matt and Mihaela!

Kathleen Livingston on April 22nd, 2008 at 10:16

Great contest. Insightful. Inspiring. Glad I dropped in.

Donna jackson on April 24th, 2008 at 19:49

Yes! really important that children don’t grow up thinking your money just arrives, and that girls should push a doll in a pushchair and boys push toy cars. Show them what you do with your day, that’s education.
Thanks kelly

Jennifer on April 25th, 2008 at 03:18

Dang, can I vote on this post :) What a great story. I kept passing this post up due to time, but I’m glad I found some. I’ll have to go see the others now.

Kelly on April 27th, 2008 at 07:09

Thanks Jennifer! Nah, I’m out of consideration, but if you ask nicely, I might sing my pageant song…

Dave on May 2nd, 2008 at 13:58

Hey- who won? Been watching…..

Wendy on May 2nd, 2008 at 19:23

Wow! Thaks for the gift certificate, and the chance to particiapte! I love my job as a stay at home mom, and it’s great being validated by others, as well!

Thanks again!

Wendy

How Much Is Your Mother Worth? on May 10th, 2008 at 07:48

[…] you read the blog, including the b5media blog, you may notice that I talk about my parents from time to time - and with good reason. They are an […]

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