If
crazy in life how much kids need to learn
And
then teens –a huge learning curve
Even
as adults it is like a constant phase of learning
It's
interesting for me to observe my own process of having changed careers almost a
year ago now and how some days I feel on top of the world and other ones not so
much. For some reason this work week is getting to me. Everyone seems to bee
postponing meetings or contracts or just not replying to important emails or
not paying invoices on time.
My
change of career this week is getting to me. Other weeks I feel it is best
thing I have ever done in my life.
It's
a process and I am so grateful for the learnings it is providing me. What I
like about certain jobs and what I don't like about others , what I excel at
and what I am weak in , what conditions my full potential is maximized in and
where it is squashed .
How
much risk tolerance I can take and how risk adverse I can be .How important the
social aspect is to me and how I manage in other ways without it.
Admin
work. Running a corporation. Subcontracting. Technology . I am doing it all. I
don't have that team to delegate to anymore and it is forcing me to be baptized
by fire and learn it ... And quickly!
But
while I am in this process of my own work and change and learning I am mostly enjoying
watching our three children experience much of the same thing.
This
will be Chase’s third year of real work at various jobs and is amazing to see
him bloom in this way. To question things, To find his preferences and his own tolerance
levels. For him to figure out how committed (or not committed he is). To see
what he is willing to sacrifice for money or the ethics of his commitment and
when he is not willing to sacrifice and why.
Has
been so far : a tutor , an admin , and outside worker , a dirt bike instructor
, a ski instructor , a school janitor , a cegep bookstore worker , a waiter and
now as of tonight an office janitor ( hubby hired him to clean his workplace
every two weeks and Chase’s preference of time
Is
10-midnight !!!
Bear
tutored for a couple of years and always loved the Xmas tips. He also was an
office worker, and outside worker and now his first real jobs a ski instructor
and occasional waiter. This has been a big year for him as all fairly new. And
he too is finding his way and very different these two brothers are when it
comes to work! Both unique in their own ways
And
now Beauty entered the real workforce tonight too (gosh it's lonely around here
as almost midnight ) Beauty has done more occasional babysitting but this new
gig is high paying babysit and looks like she will be called back more regularly
and for a couple of
Weeks
in summer. I have never seen her look prouder counting that cash and was
thrilled that the job included a trio from the McDonald across the street! She
will be babysitting it looks like a few weeks in summer. She is such a good
skier from all her years of competition that also by next winter will be a full
ski instructor at age 15. This is young!
I
told her I am counting on her paying the mortgage if my own career starts going
wrong ;))
I
think it is also important for kids at a fairly young age to manage a lot of their
own schedules and parts of their lives. A colleague the other day who has 2
teens who just started working was asking me the other day how I made sure I
got them up and out to their jobs ? I thought that was a funny question! I
don't get them there at all in general unless they have asked exceptionally for
a lift or need one. They have been trained from a very early age for school to
wake up on their own with an alarm, make their breakfast, make their lunches,
plan out the bus schedule etc. which has been an amazing learning platform for
the jobs now.
For
our own pleasure and theirs we have always two days a week made big breakfasts
in the morning for them, and gotten up out them some days too as we all enjoy
it but we have always made sure that since quite young there are a couple of
days a week they fend for themselves fully in the morning so that they get used
to it.
This
year we added on having Chase do the morning getting up driving routine with
them one day a week just to make sure he does not get too used to the cegep
late class schedule and still functions at 6:00 am like he used to when he was
in high school. It's funny to hear him (from the comfort of our bed!) telling
the other two to hurry up and get in the car!!
I
worked all summer every summer as well as often part time in school year as of
about 14 or 15 and made a ton of money that would last me the whole year and
for travel in college too . I used to hide my money under my mattress (original
eh?) and count it every night and I was so proud of it. That I could pay my way
and had savings. Made me feel so worthwhile and good and successful. I still
adore counting money :)
But
kids learn through work. I think a great experience. Friends said to me the
other day that her teens won't be able to work as too busy with hockey and that
is the same type of commitment etc. I disagree. I think sports are great and
also camps and other activities but not as a replacement to working. I think
work ethic is developed through work and also self-pride and motivation. I
think it teaches some major lif skills.
Very
hard on the parents schedules though!! A weekday night tonight and I had one to get at 10:30pm and another at
midnight! It also ruins summers and holidays and days off and time off as a
family. And not great for chores and homework getting done as the kids working
are never ever home. Makes for a bit (a lot!) of a chaotic house and life and schedules.
I have found since having 2/3 over the age 16 yrs has really made a difference in our lives and schedules.
14yrs to me is still pretty manageable
as I still somewhat control some of her time.
I
knew this day would come
I
dreaded it on so many levels
Now
it is here and I am embracing it in many ways (and still resenting it on other levels)
I
feel resigned in many ways to just accept that what was... Is Not anymore
And
I feel grateful to watch the process of our children grow into themselves
through work
As I
end this blog I just texted Chase and said “are you done yet? Can I come get
you now that it is midnight? “
And
he wrote “I like cleaning a lot. It is good actually to do janitorial work and
reminds me of the job at the school” last summer “(this teen is just so cute
and adorable sometimes)
And
I realize that I am proud of all of them and the work and contributions they
make at midnight or any time of day. It is worth the sacrifices we have to make
to have them work and grow. Mostly I am in awe of the gift of awareness they
have of themselves through the process
