Son got a job

My son finally got the job he wanted at a landscaping company. He's estatic making $7.00/hr...with overtime (they average 50-60 hrs a week....im so happy for him. This kid is looking at bringing in over $400.00 a week..
so this morning, hes telling me about it and i said well good, saturday you can help me with the other bed we need to do..he turns around and says mom "youll pay me for my expertise, right?????"....im gonna crown him before its over, lol
just wanted to share his excitement (and mine) $7./hr is a bunch of money for a kid to be making. his dream of a car ****gasp**** will be here before he knows it.
jen
sorry if the pic offends anyone. i should mention he'll be 16 next month and stands about 6'3 1/2

This message was edited Tuesday, Jun 18th 1:15 PM

This message was edited Tuesday, Jun 18th 1:15 PM

Nice looking young man......and if he's flexing those muscles.those will improve with the job too..

"eyes"

Jen, very nice looking young man! How exciting that he is starting his new job. My son is dying to get a job this summer (he's only 14) not too many places offer jobs to kids that age. But he is just trying real hard.
Jen, you must be doing something right with him if he is saving up to buy his own car. that is commendable in this day and age.....
He is going to be a heartbreaker that boy of yours.

Andy has definately pushed the limits of being a teenager. For years i made excuses for his stealing and behavior problems, using his tourettes syndrome as an excuse. We talked until we were blue in the face, saw numerous counselors etc...the final straw was when he decided to shoplift from a clothing store..the manager wanted to release him to me and i was like "excuse me, but ummm, when you break the law, you go go jail". i think the guy thought i had fallen off my rocker!!! so he called the cops, andy was arrested and marched out in front of all his peers. To this day, we havent had ANY problems out of him (knockin on wood) and hes been pretty selective with who he hangs out with. it was the hardest thing i ever had to do!!!
he realizes that the only way hell get a car is if he pays for it. his grandpa bought him the car he wants (86 firebird) but andy has to completely pay it off before g'pa turns over the keys. in the meantime andy is suffering with g'pas way of teaching him how to drive and will probably prefer to ride a bike before its all said and done with, lol
jen

I applaud you Jen!!!!! Job well done!!

"eyes"

Standing ovation from this quarter, MSJen!!!! I know it was very hard to do...but you proved it to be the right action~!! Jo

Ms Jen, that was the best thing you could have done. WAY TO GO !!!! My son shoplifted something when the kids were real young, I'm thinking like 6 or so, I found out about it when we got home. I called the store, talked to the manager and asked him to please be harsh about the whole incident when we come in. I marched alex back in there (at that time he was using a walker to walk with) and we asked for the manager, I had told Alex that not only did he have to return the item (a small doo dah, I cant even remember what it was - it was from a craft store - it probably wasnt even worth a buck) he had to apologize and take whatever punishment they chose to give him.
well, let me tell you....alex was mortified, but he took it, the manager spoke to him very harshly about what happens when you steal etc., he did not give him a punishment, but Alex learned his lesson well. I took my daughter along for the lesson.
I think that too many parents are very lax in this department, and kids grow up to be full blown thieves.

What a handsome and energetic boy Andy is! I bet the girls call all day long for him. I bet you are very proud of how far he has come! You are a very good mommy.

My son, Jaden, is 14 and holding down a full time job as a desk clerk at a motel, plus helping us build the house. (He just bought his pickup today, and only has his learner's permit so far). He will get his license in October and in the mean time he will be spending any free time he has fixig the pickup up. Doesn't need much as far as our mechanic thinks. I just love to see kids that are willing to work at such a young age. Makes for hard working adults. I've never been the type of parent that lets the kids lay on the couch all summer and watch TV. They might as well learn how to work now, as their livelyhood will soon depend on their knowing how to work and put in long hours.

Okay, off my soapbox now. Jen, I'm so proud of Andy! Please tell him that for me.

Our phone starts ringing 10 minutes before he gets off the bus and pushes the 9 pm limit every day, now that its summer the girls have no commen sense.
I've gotten to where i just turn the ringer off (sometimes forget to turn it back on, lol). hell ask, did corrie call? (nope), what about lindsey? (dunno)..so forth and so on..
poor kid, but pity me the day he figures it out, eh?

Jen, you're a great mom, and he's going to do you proud! congrats!

Joan, what age can kids work in your state?


Jen, you must be very proud of him and his accomplishements.

Pebble, In North Dakota, kids can work at 14 as long as it's not working with dangerous equipment, and they can only work between the hours of 6 AM and 9 PM.

MsJen, will you come give parenting lessons to some of the parents at the school where I work? :-)

MsJen, you did great! good looking guy, you must be proud that he learned his lesson. my boy is 14 and working at a goat farm, $6.50 an hour, 20 something hours a week. sometimes hay field, his first job. then weight lifting/conditioning for football 4X a week. my little boy is gonna really grow up this summer.

as much as i want him to grow up and move out, (lol) i'm having a hard time with it.
i heard him tell his girlfriend last night "i love you" i cringed and then wanted to cry..how DARE her, lol
jen

Jen, I remember that stage, with all of my boys, and you are lucky if he lets you be close enough to hear it. It does smart, but when a son closes his ears to his mother's words, he will listen to his heart throb, so become very good friends with her. She or some other woman will one day be your best channel of communication with your son.

OH Ms. Jen, that must be hard to hear that...I cant even fathom it yet. Aimee's advice is sound though, we must come to terms with it, and go with the flow....

after the shoflifting arrest, i figured the child had entirely too much secrecy in his life. i bought a cheap corded telephone and thats the one he uses in the living room..wether were watching tv, playing games. no more walking around the yard with the portable.
i met her and her parents a few nights ago, nice folks. andy and i had a semi blowup the other night and i wouldnt talk to him...he came back and said "mom, i care what you think, unlike most kids, talk to me"....i thought aargh, definately my child, lol
aimee, you have such a way with words that its always a pleasure to read them!!!

Thank you, Jen, I am pleased to know you think so. You just brought tears to my eyes with that bit about his caring what you think. He is sensitive, isn't he! I rarely get to hug my sons now, and one has a jealous wife who resents it so I don't try, so hug him often if he will let you. I would do it if I could.

aimee, i will remember that, thank you!! (((((hugs))))

I read on a billboard the other day "The only way to fight criminals, is to stop raising them!" MSJen, You did a great job in not raising a criminal with your decision. Sometimes tough love is the only way to go but they will respect you for your decision someday.

Jen, I've just run across this thread and you've given me hope! My son is 9 1/2 & a wonderful challenge :) We just went through a theft experience at home. I think he has learned his lesson, but time will tell. He's also shared with us that he likes a girl & vice versa ~ isn't this a bit young? Not sure how to handle this situation yet! I think (though I'm not certain) that she's intriguing to him because she brags about being in detention! Oh, my, what will we be facing over the next decade?!

MSJen tell him I said that he can come to Ohio and give me a few pointer's lol. You have it made now, not only getting advice but plants that are let over from the business. If they are any thing like the landscaping companies here when they take up perfectly healthy plants because the business want to change the scenery they throw them away. I use to have a friend that would give me the plants. I miss it he quit and started another job.
By the way you have a very handsome son, but I think he already knows it lol.

This message was edited Wednesday, Jul 10th 5:52 PM