Both my boys are of age to get a job.. I'm really having a hard time letting go and allowing them to get one.. I always hear people saying that kids need to get jobs as soon as they are of age. Asking when my kids are going to get one and such. I really want them to have this time to focus on their talents.. To be a kid.. Ds15 will be playing sports in the fall and having a job is going to make it hard to keep his grades up AND focus on his music.. I'm not worried about work ethics, because they BOTH have that.. Ds15 is at the church mowing right now.. I guess you can say that he does have a job because he is on payroll. it didn't start out that way.. He asked if there was any work he could do because he was bored after we brought him back to homeschooling. neither of the boys mind working at all.. Both the girls have a weekly job at an elderly persons house across the street mowing and weedeating.. YES, even my 9 year old works On the other hand, I want them to start having more responsibility when it comes to purchases and handling money.. We don't fork out money for everything they want.. We just don't have it, but they do get to do a lot of stuff.. Ds16 has a girlfriend and I'm sure he's going to start wanting to earn money to pay to take her places and buy her things.. IF they want a job that's one thing, but MAKING them get one is what I have a problem with.. They will have their entire life to work.. This is a very small window in their lives.. Time flies by way too fast.. I'm the one having growing pains.. Gosh, this is SO hard!! All my kids are growing up and it happened when I blinked. Where did the time go???
Garrett is working, I'm actually VERY proud of him. It's not an easy job, but he hasn't complained about it yet. Hubby's uncle owns the school busses for our district and a few others. Garrett is working down the mountain at the bus barn, the are scraping frames under busses so they can get a new coat of undercoating, he is also washing the busses inside and out, and who knows what else. He is there from 8-5 with an hour lunch. He is getting paid under the table since he is family and making $10 an hour. He is mad at me right now because I told him he only gets to blow $50 a week, the rest is going towards school clothes and getting put away for a car and college. If he keeps working hard he will have this job as long as he wants it.. I'm sure someday he could move into a mechanic position which pays over $20 an hour if he decides he doesn't want to go to college.
That's something my 15 year old would jump on too... The other one is a worker too, but this one likes to work at stuff like that.. He's happiest when he's doing something alone that way. Alot like me.. That's when I get my "thinking" done.. LOL! I'm probably going to be taking my 16 year old out to job hunt this week.. He's really wanting to get one.. Of course he also thinks that he's moving out at 17 too.. My hubby told him "you can't even buy medicine at the store until you're 18". He wants his freedom SO badly.. Gosh, if I knew "then" what I know now, I would NOT have been in such a hurry to get out on my own.. Of course,unlike him, I had a crappy home life so that was my escape.
I moved out at 17... so did my hubby. I have to laugh, the kid who wouldn't even put his hands in his cake on his first birthday because it might make him dirty, comes home every night black from head to toe.
I'm encouraging, but not forcing my ds17 to get a job. He worked Boy Scout camp last summer and volunteered this year (mostly unpaid staff was used to keep costs down). We cannot afford to buy him a car or pay college expenses, so he will need to save money for those.
I've always agreed. While I had to earn my extras in some way (extra chores etc). My mom only allowed summer jobs. During the school year, "school" was my job. I seen a lot of flailing spiritually with my friends who were allowed jobs while going to school at the same time. So I probably will have the same rule. I would rather have work ethic though built then actual job-ie what you explained sounds to me like work ethic-helping the church, elderly, camps, etc etc.
Rachael has had a very hard time getting a job this summer. The internship she was hoping for fell through due to the Sequester. (But the taxpayers can foot a $10 million bill for the president's family to go to Africa; go figure!) She finally gave up on a "real job", and is helping the neighbor with her kids part-time (but the hourly pay is good!). Someone has also blessed her with a financial gift that they felt God was directing them to give to her, so that will make up the difference come fall! She also was accepted for a job as a math proctor in the fall. Not many hours, but it will help! Faythe is in her third year volunteering at the zoo. She loves it, and while it doesn't pay, it's competitive to get into. They usually have about 150 applicants for about 80 positions. However, once you're in, you're in until you "age out" as long as you complete the required number of hours and don't screw up. She's working there two days a week, and loves it. This year, she's "moved up" to a Regional Aide. That means she was able to apply for a specific area of the zoo. So she's specializing in the Shores region...manatees, Barrier Reef, penguins, etc. It's really fed her interest in Marine Biology. Phillip is mowing yards for a neighbor.
Go figure on the presidential vacation crap!! GRRR! Your kids sound amazing! You've done a great job with them..
Emily has already asked if she can try to get a job next year. It is next to impossible around here unless you are related to someone. One lady at our church would let her work for her at her bridal shop but she is trying to sell it and retire before next summer. Emily would love to work in a diner but we don't know anyone who would hire her. She will be 16 next June and that will make it easier. A lady at Burger King said she would hire her then. When we were teenagers you could pack apples at a place near us. It paid pretty good. That closed a long time ago though.
My son is 16,and he just got his first job,he asked me if he could get one,and I said sure,so he went out,and got one. I am so proud of him.
Phillip has learned that a local restaurant hires kids as young as 14. I guess he told his dad that next year, he's not going to mow lawns. He wants "real job"!
Mine have been applying for jobs here and there the last month or so.. Gonna get real serious next month because my 16 year old will be getting his license and we require him to pay his own insurance and gas.. I think he's feeling a little bit uncomfortable with the fact that his girlfriend has a job and he doesn't.. LOL!!
I'm new to homeschool addicts but my son now 18 is been working at a golf course and is only a season job. He also for the past year started broadcasting for a Internet station that broadcast local sports. Very proud he saves his money to try and get a used car someday. My daughter soon to be 15 wants to try and either make things to sell or babysit during the holidays so ppl can do shopping or pick up extra work hours. So proud of them. Hope my younger three sons age 12,10,7 are just as much at getting a job as them.