As a first-time expectant parent, I made a promise to my husband: our kids will have summer jobs when they hit their teenage years. Right now, our little ones are just 7 and 4, so their summers revolve around cartwheeling, swimming, and possibly launching that lemonade stand they’ve been dreaming about since winter’s snowy grip.
Once they turn 14—when they can get their working papers in Massachusetts—I plan to do what my dad did with me: sit them down and chat about how to find a summer gig. I grew up in a comfortable home, and thankfully, my family didn’t rely on my summer earnings to make ends meet. However, my parents, who came from modest backgrounds, understood that their strong work ethic paved the way for a better life for my siblings and me. They wanted to pass that same drive on to us. Enter the summer job.
My first job? Scooping ice cream at the local Ben & Jerry’s. The owner bluntly told me I was terrible at mopping floors—quite a blow for a straight-A student who had never faced criticism before. At 14, I learned an essential truth: I wasn’t as special as I thought, and I needed to improve my mopping skills!
Before I landed my teaching position at 22, I juggled various roles: bank teller, waitress, preschool assistant, shoe store clerk, nanny, and even caregiver for a couple with multiple sclerosis. Each job taught me invaluable lessons: how to handle irritable customers (because who goes to the bank happy?), change diapers, navigate a few angry moments (thanks, police, for the alarm mishap), show up on time (my morning shift was crucial for that couple), and recognize that earning money often involves tedious tasks.
I want my kids to experience those lessons too. Comedian Jamie Lutz, who humorously champions the value of tough jobs, captures this well. He has shared his hopes that his daughters will have “crappy” retail jobs when they come of age. In his comedic bit, he emphasizes the importance of young people doing their “sucky” jobs well. After years of receiving love, education, and other perks, he believes they need to truly contribute and face the realities of the workforce.
I want to provide my children the gift of genuine work. Now, you might say, “What about community service?” My daughter plans to assist in building a school in Peru this summer. I once edited community service essays for a magazine and found that many submissions reeked of self-satisfaction and resume padding. Often, the projects felt disconnected from real needs—like my own Habitat for Humanity trip, where I ended up stapling wires under the guidance of a real electrician. When I heard Jamie’s bit about how many well-meaning trips don’t actually help, I couldn’t help but relate—I should have just worked on my tan!
Of course, there are young folks genuinely dedicated to community service, and that’s commendable. However, I believe it’s equally essential for them to experience being at the bottom of the hierarchy: making copies, brewing coffee, or mopping floors. They need to learn what it takes to earn a dollar and how to navigate various personalities in the workplace. Ultimately, understanding the value of hard work and responsibility is crucial for their growth.
In summary, I’m excited about the lessons my future teenagers will learn through summer jobs. They’ll gain skills, resilience, and a sense of responsibility that will serve them well throughout their lives. Plus, they might even have some fun along the way!
If you’re interested in learning more about pregnancy and home insemination, check out this excellent resource from the CDC. For those looking for more on this journey, you can visit our other blog posts like the one on at-home insemination kits.