Kids in the workplace - early thinking

I spoke on a panel at a women's conference and had many come up to me afterward thanking me for my perspective on kids in the workplace.

Here's what I said that struck a chord...

"My 8 year old comes to work with me a lot. I never apologize to my team, I never even give people heads up that he's going to be there, he just is.

And my team isn't bothered by it.

I'm not bothered by it and I think they're taking my lead.

Jordi (my son) blends in. He might speak up every once-in-awhile needing something or responding to something someone said, but for the most part he's ignored, and he's just fine. Everyone is just fine!" 

I know this works for me and I have control over it because I'm the boss.

I brought him with me to Microsoft on occasion when I worked there, but he never came to meetings. You see, I was trying to climb the corporate ladder and I believe that having a kiddo hanging around could have been a reason to not promote me.

As I think about work / life blend where work blends into my life, I think life should be able to blend just as much into work.

People bring dogs to work right? Why not kids? And as I think this out loud, it makes me realize that people with high-maintenence dogs know they aren't able to bring them to work, I think parents with kids who will disrupt a meeting wouldn't even try to bring them in. I feel like it will self-regulate.

So if you think you're in a position to bring your kiddo to work -- try doing it without apologizing and see what happens. Who knows, maybe you'll be surprised and a whole new way of working will open up.

Thoughts? Has anybody tried this?