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Parenting & Farm Kids:  Teen jobs  |
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FieldsofThyme
Farmgirl Guide & Schoolmarm / Chapter Leader
4928 Posts
USA
4928 Posts |
 Posted - May 06 2011 : 04:49:04 AM
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Jobs are so hard to find in our area, and it took almost a year for our son to find a job.
We've been praying that our 17 yo daughter would be offered a job.
Well, the good Lord provided. She has been hired to work for the horse stable she rides at. She's pretty excited. Her lessons are worked for, and she is also paid for other work.
Farmgirl #800
http://pioneerwomanatheart.blogspot.com/
http://scrapreusedandrecycledartprojects.blogspot.com/
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thehatlady
Farmgirl in Training
47 Posts
Lola
Doniphan
Missouri
USA
47 Posts |
Posted - May 06 2011 : 5:18:37 PM
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Good for her. So often it seens like kids don't know the value of a good days work for a good days pay. I've had to hire kids at times to help me get things done and it seems 85% of them don't have good work ethics. You have taught your kids well. Lola
Every day, in every way, I become better and better. |
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oldbittyhen
True Blue Farmgirl
1511 Posts
tina
quartz hill
ca
USA
1511 Posts |
Posted - May 06 2011 : 6:35:29 PM
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| I have hired kids for years to help out, mucking, weeding, fruit picking, etc...and I will also teach them differant things along with their pay, such as: riding, canning and jewelry making... |
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treelady
True Blue Farmgirl
2307 Posts
Julie
Medina
ND
USA
2307 Posts |
Posted - May 06 2011 : 6:49:24 PM
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We have 2 teenage boys who have worked for us for several years after school and in the summer. They have grown into such resposible young men that we even trust them to do all the farm chores now when we go on vacation. The youngest one is graduating from high school in a few weeks and leaving for college in the fall, I feel like one of my own kids is leaving the nest. The next step is hiring a couple more young people when the boys are no longer with us. Your daughter will do wonderful Kristie.
Julie
A little rain can straighten a flower stem. A little love can change a life.
Max Lucado |
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Ninibini
True Blue Farmgirl
7577 Posts
Nini
Pennsylvania
USA
7577 Posts |
Posted - May 06 2011 : 7:35:13 PM
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That's great that your daughter landed a job doing something she loves! What a blessing!
You know, Kristina, our "yard guy" started his business when he was still in high school. He would cut grass, move stones - whatever yard work was needed. He never in a million years thought it would become a business that would later support a team of 10 men with families. He was inexpensive, worked hard, slowly built up his collection of tools and machinery. People liked him, and as word of mouth spread about him, his business burgeoned. He's in his 30's now with a family of his own, he owns a home, a number of trucks with trailers carrying all sorts of landscaping equipment. He's got a nifty little thing going on. Where we live, houses are practically on top of each other, so the yards are small. But people still work, and yardwork cuts into their already precious weekend time to get things done before heading back to work on Monday. Our guy does our tiny yards for just $12, and it takes him less than 10 minutes to do them. A good deal on both ends. All summer, we see his team in yards all around our town as well as in those next to us. A lot of similar businesses go into snow removal for the winter, but he just takes the winter off - that's how well they do! And they are the nicest bunch of men you'll ever meet.
One of our former foster sons made a killing one winter doing this - he left "business cards" on neighbor's front doors, introducing himself, telling his rate of $15 a driveway (neighbors with driveways have small driveways) and his number! First sign of snow, our phone was ringing off the wall. Definitely a snow day off from school well spent!
I tell my son all the time that he should start thinking about doing something like that with his closest, most trustworthy friends. He gets to work with his dad every now and then, but it's not steady. When he's old enough to "work, work," though, I think it'd be great if they start their own venture - even handyman work or painting. That way, he'd not only make money, but learn a little more about the ins and outs of running a small business. We've got some time yet before he's ready for anything like that, but it's always a discussion on the table. And we know our yard guy would be more than willing to give them some pointers, to boot!
Also, friends of ours have a huge local farm. They always hire out kids for the summer to work in the fields. It's "killer work," the kids say, with long hours and "1099 pay" (which isn't much at the end of the day), but it's work nevertheless, and it has the bonus of "growing muscles."
I hope maybe some of these ideas will be helpful to others whose kids are having a hard time finding work. I know how tough it is out there. I also realize these ideas hold no guarantees, of course; but thinking outside of the box and using a little creativity just might be the solution. I hope it will be with our son someday! :)
Hugs -
Nini
Farmgirl Sister #1974
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
www.papercraftingwithnini.myctmh.com
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Edited by - Ninibini on May 06 2011 7:42:35 PM |
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FieldsofThyme
Farmgirl Guide & Schoolmarm / Chapter Leader
4928 Posts
USA
4928 Posts |
Posted - May 07 2011 : 05:43:56 AM
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Thank you all for responding. I try to encourage the kids to follow what they truly enjoy. I am trying to get my "store" started on-line, and will have drawings for sale that my son does. He works for a grocery store, but looooves to draw. My dd who rides also wants to learn to sew the horse saddle pads and sell them in my "store." We plan to sell these from the home some day, since we live on a country highway. My 14 yo makes very nice macrame jewelry.
I try to teach them new skills all the time also. Even if they don't like it or don't do well with it, they have at least tried it.
Last night my 11 yo daughter baked her first birthday cake and frosted it with my frosting tips for the first time. Simply by learning from watching me make them. I learned from my mother as well.
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Edited by - FieldsofThyme on May 07 2011 05:49:23 AM |
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Tall Holly
True Blue Farmgirl
2305 Posts
Holly
Worcester
Vermont
USA
2305 Posts |
Posted - May 08 2011 : 5:27:08 PM
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our 16 yo washes dishes and is kitchen help at a local restaurant. He has seen people come and go and seen different work ethics. He knows now that it is not something he wants to do for the rest of his life but he likes the money now. We have his check direct deposited to the tempatation to cash and spend is much less. He has learned to spend only a bit at a time. He does have expensive taste in clothes and accessories. He wants a car but does not want a junker so his desires are conflicting we shall see how this all plays out as time passes.
Holly
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Parenting & Farm Kids: Teen jobs |
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Teen jobs
