At what age did you start working?

[florezitta10]

Hello everyone, SOme of you already know that I have 2 teen girls. well the both want to get jobs and I don't know if i'm ok with that. How old were you and if you have older kids or teens how old were they when they started working and what advice can you give me to feel a little better about this I still see them as my babies  and don't want to let them go. I mean I know i have to and I know I will just want to get some input lol 

[muush88]

i had my first job at 16  (excluding paper routes)  ummmmmmm why would you be letting go are they gonna get jobs far away? Are they gonna quit school to work? You should be happy and supportive they want to earn thier way. I thought it was great getting a paycheck at 16, So did mom and dad i was out of thier pockets.  I say let them work,  And if you dont like them working after awhile  charge room and board take half thier check and they wont ever want to work again   

[GoGoKokiGo]

Hey Flor! I started working when I was 16. It seemed like so much fun to have responsibility....it wore off after a while. The glamor of being an underpaid cashier doesn't last as long as I thought it would.

[cowgirlx]

I started when I was 16, it was your standard fast food teenage job.  It sucked. 

[florezitta10]

i had my first job at 16  (excluding paper routes)  ummmmmmm why would you be letting go are they gonna get jobs far away? Are they gonna quit school to work? You should be happy and supportive they want to earn thier way. I thought it was great getting a paycheck at 16, So did mom and dad i was out of thier pockets.  I say let them work,  And if you dont like them working after awhile  charge room and board take half thier check and they wont ever want to work again  

I have a very close relationship with my girls we are together all the time so when I say let them go I don't mean away just "let them grow up" ughh lol.. I a happy they have these thoughts and that they want to help out after all I have spent their whole lives teaching how to be independent. I guess I did a good job at it

The oldest is 16 so I am a little more linient to let her work as long as grades stay up. The other is only 13 she will be 14 by the time her "plan" starts. So will see she does really good in school she is in a program for gifted children so grades are not an issue it's just me being a mom and being worried about doing the good thing for them. Thanks for your comment  

Hahahha charge them rent I will have to remember that one lol.. "you want to be an adult I'll treat you like one. 300 a month for rent" I have my speach ready hhahahha

[florezitta10]

Hey Flor! I started working when I was 16. It seemed like so much fun to have responsibility....it wore off after a while. The glamor of being an underpaid cashier doesn't last as long as I thought it would.

Hey Koki, I hear that all the time it's only exciting until it gets old lol... Thanks for your reply

[florezitta10]

I started when I was 16, it was your standard fast food teenage job.  It sucked. 

I guess 16 is the best age the other one is 13 so idk lol well she wants to get a work permit from school when she turns 14 so will see. Thanks for your reply

[dreamyxo]

My first job was at 17 a couple of months before I started college.  It was at McDonalds.  I really only worked there a few days because they didn't put me on the schedule so I stopped going.  I only worked during the summers in college so I would say 18 would have been my first official job for the whole summer after my first year of college.  My parents didn't want me to work during school because school was my job.  


ETA:  I just saw their ages.  I'm not a parent but I would not want my child to work during school.  That would be way too much even if they do get good grades.  The only reason I see doing that is if the family is having severe financial difficulties and they need the childs income to survive otherwise let them enjoy being as kid as long as possible because they will have the rest of their lives to slave and be a part of the rat race.

Do they get an allowance?  If you don't want them to go out and work maybe you could pay them a small amount to do chores outside of their normal chores besides keeping their rooms clean.  I certainly wouldn't let the 13 year old go out and work under any circumstance.  If the 16 year old wants to do it I'd only let them work during the summer once school started they'd need to quit.  

[florezitta10]

My first job was at 17 a couple of months before I started college.  It was at McDonalds.  I really only worked there a few days because they didn't put me on the schedule so I stopped going.  I only worked during the summers in college so I would say 18 would have been my first official job for the whole summer after my first year of college.  My parents didn't want me to work during school because school was my job.  

That's how I feel too school is their job. But I guess if it doesn't affect their grades it would be ok. Idk it's something i have to think about a lot. But it makes me feel good that they want to be productive

[articx]

When I was a teenager, I wanted to get a job but my mother would not let me. My high school at the time worked with a group that allowed students to work at the school in the summer. When I was 15 and they started this program for that year, I filled out an application, had an interview days later, and got a job a few days after.

[florezitta10]

When I was a teenager, I wanted to get a job but my mother would not let me. My high school at the time worked with a group that allowed students to work at the school in the summer. When I was 15 and they started this program for that year, I filled out an application, had an interview days later, and got a job a few days after.

I would be more at peace if she did work in her school. Thanks for the Idea

[mmangas]

I started working when I was tall enough to reach a cash register.  I think it's good for children to have a work ethic and to make their own money that they can buy "extra" stuff with.  And if you teach your children how to save with each and every paycheck they get...this will help out as they mature in life!

[florezitta10]

I started working when I was tall enough to reach a cash register.  I think it's good for children to have a work ethic and to make their own money that they can buy "extra" stuff with.  And if you teach your children how to save with each and every paycheck they get...this will help out as they mature in life!

Wow how old was that? I think you are right about teaching them to save. I have taught them to do that even with their allowance so hopefully that will help them be more responsible when they do get a job

[florezitta10]

ETA:  I just saw their ages.  I'm not a parent but I would not want my child to work during school.  That would be way too much even if they do get good grades.  The only reason I see doing that is if the family is having severe financial difficulties and they need the childs income to survive otherwise let them enjoy being as kid as long as possible because they will have the rest of their lives to slave and be a part of the rat race.

Do they get an allowance?  If you don't want them to go out and work maybe you could pay them a small amount to do chores outside of their normal chores besides keeping their rooms clean.  I certainly wouldn't let the 13 year old go out and work under any circumstance.  If the 16 year old wants to do it I'd only let them work during the summer once school started they'd need to quit.  

That's how I feel if there is no need then why you know but I want them to learn for them selves you know. Summer is coming and maybe this will be a good time for them to see that it really is not that easy. They do have an allowance and I do pay them for extra chores. They have assigned chores each day besides cleaning their room. Anything else I feel is extra I pay them for so we have a good system going on already. but I agree even when my 13 yr old turns 14 that is still very young I also agree that if they did work it would only be during the summer

[inluvwitmm]

I was 16 when I started working at the movie theater a few blocks from my house. The job itself sucks, loved the people though (well, some). I learned a lot - you have to be patient with people because you run into all sorts of people...sometimes I wanted to cry because some people were so mean! But for your 16 year old, I think it's a great time for her to find something! You just have to watch her and make sure she doesn't take on too much though. By senior year, I was pretty much working full time (since I finally turned 18 in April and was able to stay at work past midnight! lol) and taking naps in class. I still got good grades though, go figure. Best part of working, I met some great people that I would've never met if I didn't work there, including my boyfriend. So I do thank that place...and now I'm about to graduate and I'm reallllly considering going back there since a lot of my friends are still there (very scary thought) and I'm getting desperate lol.

As for the younger one, you can still keep her close...maybe give her some extra cash for do chores or something...or helping you cook dinner.