Month: June 2014

“In our house, we don’t do that.”                 “If you want to join us, that behavior is not tolerated.” “We don’t do that here.” Learning how to play in the sandbox, get invited to the party, or fit into a workplace culture. Each requires that we understand the rules. If we follow them, the group lets us stay in the game. If we break the rules, we risk rejection or outright ouster. Teaching what is taboo doesn’t always come from an employee handbook or a friend plainly telling us. We learn from observation. Growing up, my Catholic working class childhood

I remember with specificity the types of things my dad taught me growing up:  how to track mileage on a road trip, how to budget and save money, how to change the oil and filter in my car after rotating the tires, how to use the edger and weed whacker, how to color in circles to make my pictures neater, how to take care of my hamster, and how to finish my teenage bedroom in the basement.  I remember these things so clearly because learnings from my dad were special.  Time with my dad was special.  My dad taught me