By Jenny Jiménez on May 16, 2019
Hello Hello! I know I seem to have gone MIA lately. Actually I was “trying” to wrap up my kitchen remodel that seem to drag on for ever and ever. Heck I still have a few details to deal with. I know it’s probably the boarder line OCD in me but it just has to be right, especially considering how long I’ve waited for this kitchen. Can’t wait to do a post on that.
Before I get into it, don’t forget to subscribe to my blog below and to the right so you’ll be the first to know when I post! AND follow me on Instagram and Facebook. Don’t procrastinate, go ahead, do it now and get it out of the way 😉
For those who don’t know, I am a single mother of two. I have a 17 year old daughter, Elisa, who is currently a senior in high school. She’ll be 18 this summer and I also have a 16 year old son, Jonah, who is a sophomore in high school. Since she is in that college decision stage, I will do a post on that in the upcoming weeks but for now I wanted to talk about how important it is for teens to have jobs.
I will admit that I struggled quite a bit raising them. I had little support had did 97% of it all on my own. That said, as parents we need to ensure that we are teaching our children how to be independent. Yes independent. It is OUR JOB to make sure that when our children leave home they are more than capable of taking care of themselves. For those of you who have specific questions on that, feel free to email me using the Contact tab, however I will be posting soon on things children should know so be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss that one. For now I’d like to point out the pros from working.
Five Benefits Teens Get From Having A Job:
RESPONSIBILITY: Let’s face it. Kids have excuses for everything. Teens especially. Remember now, I’m speaking from experience here. They will come up with every excuse possible to avoid having to do things. Having a job teaches teens responsibility. I mean in addition to what we’ve already shown them as parents. This actually reinforces all the hard work we’ve put in to teaching them how to be on time and be prepared. Teens can no longer have excuses for not being on time or they risk losing their jobs. They will put into action that being where you are supposed to be early and prepared is the path to success. I am always impressed when I see my children do things around the home without being asked and without wanting recognition. My love language is Acts Of Service after all. 😉
ACCOUNTABILITY: Sometimes as parents we fail to hold our children accountable to certain expectations. This could be making sure they complete their chores and/or any other tasks they’ve been assigned. As a single parent who works long hours outside the home, I am most certainly guilty of this one. I’ve been so tired before that I’ve failed to address things with my kids. Having a job teaches them to be accountable. To do what they have been assigned to do by their employer. In turn we will also see these benefits play out at home.
SELFLESSNESS: The idea that it’s not always about them. Today’s youth have a strong sense of ENTITLEMENT. Yes – I said it. Mine are no exception. Having a job teaches them how to work in a team. It shows them that they are not the only one. I believe that as they become better co-workers, you’ll see them become better family members at home also. It will no longer be about Me Me Me. Now it’s about We.
INTEGRITY: As a parent, nothing makes me so proud as to see my kids walking with integrity. You don’t hear this word too often anymore. Most teens will work at retail or something similar. These jobs, while entry level, can often be very draining, tiresome and challenging. Our teens are encountering different personalities on a daily basis and it’s important that they maintain good character in those interactions. Having your kid remain cool and collected while someone is on a rant shows that they have what it takes to take on their future. It also says a lot about them when they stay on the up and up should anyone around them take part in dishonest behavior. Sounds simple, I know, but in reality this is a huge deal.
REALITY CHECK: Having a job teaches teens to think about all sorts of things that perhaps they may not have had to before- like balancing their time. Most Part-time jobs require teens to work anywhere from 15-25 hours per week. Elisa and Jonah work at the same place and they usually work a six to six and a half hour shift when assigned to work. I’m so impressed with them. They come home from school, tackle some chores then are off to work within the hour and there for all those hours. Sure they are exhausted at the end of the day and generally shower and do some homework (and jump on Instagram) before heading to bed. This keeps them on their toes. It helps them to be pro-active instead of reactive. There is literally no room for procrastination on their schedules. I try to reinforce to them the importance of doing things immediately and getting it out of the way so it’s not floating over their heads when they have a day off. That free time they can use to relax or spend time with friends.
Even though they are tired and a job takes so much of their time, they know to keep their rooms clean (or as clean as a teen’s room can get) and staying on top of things like their laundry (everyone in my home is responsible for their own laundry). They also enjoy having money that they worked very hard for, to do as they please. Well after they tithe anyway. That’s a requirement in our home.
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Till next time! 🙂
Jenny
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