“I Want To Be a Working Girl. Just Like Daddy.”

Had my daughter been 18 when she made this declaration you would have found me clutching my chest throughout the frantic drive to the ER. But, with my daughter only being 4, I found her career choice both flattering and adorable.

Kamryn is still at that innocent age where the life around her is absorbed, comprehended, and rebroadcasted at face value. As anyone who has or has had small children can tell you, much of what they say often requires a parental follow-up so people don’t get the impression that either you or your child needs professional intervention.

In light of Kamryn’s statement, I’d like to clarify what she meant so no one wastes their cell minutes dialing up CPS to request a house visit.

First and foremost, I’d like to make it clear to everyone that this daddy is not a ho. Nothing I do puts me at risk for misdemeanors, STD’s, or gaudy pumps. While her insinuating that I’m a “working girl” might raise some eyebrows, perhaps a little job description can help avoid any confusion.

It’s actually difficult to accurately describe what I do because it seems every client is interested in something different. Being a full-service provider, I’m pretty much just there to satisfy whatever needs the client has after he or she makes contact. Since starting in this business I’ve always been an independent and I refuse to work for any kind of agency or service. After all, I see no reason to give someone a cut when I’m the one doing all the work.

When a prospective client calls or responds to one of my intriguing advertisements, I’ll talk to them about their interests and explain all the different ways I can make them happy. Because I’m paid by the hour, we negotiate an agreed-upon rate. Then, if they like what they hear, they book me. Some engagements are short and some are long. It all depends on what they’re interested in and how much I’m asked to do for them.

Regardless of the arrangement, once I’ve booked a gig, I go to work until the client is satisfied. And once my services have been rendered? They pay me for it. Long story short: I have something clients want; clients pay me money to give it to them; we both leave satisfied. It’s as simple as that.

How this could be confused with prostitution is baffling. After all, unlike a prostitute, I do all I can to make sure my clients *don’t* feel screwed.

I believe Kamryn wants to do what I do when she grows up because she witnesses five key things that are appealing to children:

1. I get to work in my jammies.
2. I have movies streaming next to me throughout the day.
3. I work with colors, sound, and video.
4. I jostle the mouse, peck at the keyboard, and talk on the phone for money.
5. I can come and go as I please. Whenever. Wherever.

Actually, after reading this over, I think this kind of workday might appeal to adults as well.

Truth is, I love what I do and my children know it because they witness it. They’ve taken an interest in what I create and I often elicit their feedback during the creative process. While Kamryn will infallibly choose any version with a pink or purple hue, I still like to include her in the decisions, if only to foster her curiosity. I simply accept her votes with a heavy footnote.

My daughter wants to be a working girl. Just like daddy. And you know what? I 100% support that.

I just hope she phrases it a bit differently during her college interviews.

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