"He ONLY wants to be an auto mechanic..."

[superme80]

A good mechanic is hard to find. An HONEST mechanic is nearly impossible to find. But honest mechanics make great money. I worked for an honest mechanic. He did quite well for himself as did his employees. Next to my dad, he is the only one who is allowed to touch my car.

 

[Andtototoo]

I would support my child's choice of careers as long as the career had a reasonable chance of supporting them decently.
I'm not going to pat them on the head or give them monetary support to enable them down a path that won't lead to being able to pay their own way through life.

 

[Buckeye Princess]

I think one of the problems with our economy right now is so many people shun blue collar jobs. I'd rather my child learn a trade and have a good honest job that they enjoyed then for them to go to college to study a subject that most likely will not get them a job. (I know so many people I went to high school with who selected certain majors and now can't figure out why 6 years later they still are waiting tables with their degrees.) Mechanics, plumbers, HVAC people, etc all are jobs that earn a good living and take some intelligence and expertise.

 

[golfgal]

I think one of the problems with our economy right now is so many people shun blue collar jobs. I'd rather my child learn a trade and have a good honest job that they enjoyed then for them to go to college to study a subject that most likely will not get them a job. (I know so many people I went to high school with who selected certain majors and now can't figure out why 6 years later they still are waiting tables with their degrees.) Mechanics, plumbers, HVAC people, etc all are jobs that earn a good living and take some intelligence and expertise.

I know a lot of plumbers, electricians, auto mechanics that don't have jobs too though. It isn't a given you will get a job in any field.

 

[ugadog99]

As it is, my DS wants to be an opera singer. It gave me heartburn initially because the chances of real success are so small, but then I realized that it's his life and music brings him joy. Why would I want him to pursue anything less than what makes him feel complete? If he isn't rich, so be it.

Please, always keep this attitude! We are a family who loves and supports the arts. I so wanted to be a theatre major, but my parents were not supportive. I switched to early childhood and have regretted it every day. (Please no flames about elementary.) My daughter wants to be a theatre major, and I totally support and encourage her!

 

[Bilberry]

Hmm....I now have that song "Mammas, don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys." running through my head.

My father, as a hobby, works on cars. And i use the "works" loosely, as he hires many others to work on the old autos he purchases and then coordinates the projects. We'll get our hands greasy from time to time, but mainly other mechanics and machinist do the bulk of the lifting. From what I've seen being an auto mechanic isn't the best of jobs concerning pay, or with the work done. All to often auto mechanics can be a pretty seedy crowd to be around. From what I've seen, alcohol, drugs, porn, even gangs can be a problem with this group.

But with that said, I know of a few auto mechanics in town that own their own shops, have reliable reputations, and so do decently well as far as I can tell. I guess like most things, if he wants to be a mechanic aim high - be reliable, do quality work, and be your own boss. It could pay off in pay and also in job enjoyment.

 

[JessicaR]

From what I've seen being an auto mechanic isn't the best of jobs concerning pay, or with the work done. All to often auto mechanics can be a pretty seedy crowd to be around. From what I've seen, alcohol, drugs, porn, even gangs can be a problem with this group.

Where do you live? Holy world what a thing to say. How many do you personally know that you could say such a thing?

Around here talented auto mechanics make a damn good living. Just seems like an extremely broad statement.

 

[2girls4me]

Not quite the same, but my sister thinks my oldest nephew is going to be a garbage man. She says it with no disrespect, as the kid is happiest when he's cleaning up. It's a joke now, and I don't think anyone is being mean when they say it.

 

[2girls4me]

Where do you live? Holy world what a thing to say. How many do you personally know that you could say such a thing?

Around here talented auto mechanics make a damn good living. Just seems like an extremely broad statement.

Ita. There is nothing wrong with auto mechanics.

 

[golfgal]

Good mechanics around here make more than I do and I do pretty well, so if that's what DS wanted to do I'd be totally cool with that.

As it is, my DS wants to be an opera singer. It gave me heartburn initially because the chances of real success are so small, but then I realized that it's his life and music brings him joy. Why would I want him to pursue anything less than what makes him feel complete? If he isn't rich, so be it.

A girl that went to our kids' old school is now a professional opera singer. You just knew at a young age that she had a special talent. She went to college, got a degree in music performance and now is a professional.

 

[scrapquitler]

All to often auto mechanics can be a pretty seedy crowd to be around. From what I've seen, alcohol, drugs, porn, even gangs can be a problem with this group. .

Right. Because they are low class shmucks. Unlike those perfect lawyers and doctors who never do drugs, abuse alcohol, watch porn or beat their wives.

 

[MUFFYCAT]

All the mechanic, plumber or electrician's mom can send their sons over to meet my DD20 anytime.

 

[torinsmom]

Well, I might be one of those parents. My ds16 wants to be a musician. but he doesn't play any instruments and has yet to make varsity choir ( he's a junior this year). He's never tried out for any musicals or solos. So, I'm not terribly supportive. I have bought him 2 guitars, signed him up for lessons and he never practices. If he came home tomorrow and said he wanted to be an auto mechanic, I'd be thrilled! Right now, unless they come up with a course in flirting with girls, he's going to a community college to get the basic courses and hopefully figure out a real career!

My son only plays guitar, but until this year(his senior year) was adamant that he wanted to go to school for music. I supported him, but suggested he might look into other areas as well. I think the guidance counselor must have said the same thing to him, because now he says he wants to go for video game/computer programming and take music courses as some of his electives. I am fine with whatever he does as long as he can support himself.

 

[Buckalew11]

Right. Because they are low class shmucks. Unlike those perfect lawyers and doctors who never do drugs, abuse alcohol, watch porn or beat their wives.

Wait, I hear more lawyer jokes than mechanic jokes.

 

[manning]

Here is a very interesting conversation with John Ratzenberger, the actor in Cheers who played the mailman, talking about the shortage of 10 million skilled workers by 2030.


A very interesting conversation worth listening to. He hits the nail on the head!


http://www.youtube.com/user/CenterforAmerica?feature=mhee#p/u/15/w1S5WDXjsg8

 

[golfgal]

Another field that is going to die out soon are meat cutters. There are only 3 schools left in the country that offer this training. I know of 2 butchers that are going to have to close up shop, well, one already did, and the other will be soon, because they can't find butchers. The one that is closed just wanted someone else to work some of the hours, couldn't find anyone. Everyone in town even told him they would still support his business if he needed to limit hours, etc. but it was just too much work. The other one will be retiring soon and will close his business that has been open for over 100 years because there is no one to take it over. It's kind of sad actually.

 

[NotUrsula]

Meat cutting is normally an apprenticeship path. Your butchers need to take on a couple of apprentices.

The gourmet supermarkets and high-end steakhouses around here apprentice butchers, as do the specialty markets. I know of at least 4 specialty meat markets around here that are expanding their businesses exponentially; they have no trouble finding apprentice candidates.

There was a former poster here who has a learning-disabled son who became a specialty butcher; I seem to recall that she said that he apprenticed at Publix.

 

[golfgal]

Meat cutting is normally an apprenticeship path. Your butchers need to take on a couple of apprentices.

The gourmet supermarkets and high-end steakhouses around here apprentice butchers, as do the specialty markets. I know of at least 4 specialty meat markets around here that are expanding their businesses exponentially; they have no trouble finding apprentice candidates.

There was a former poster here who has a learning-disabled son who became a specialty butcher; I seem to recall that she said that he apprenticed at Publix.

Maybe that is the new answer to the shortage. I do know that there is/was a certification process they had to go through BEFORE they become an apprentice. You can work in a butcher shop without this, but to be the one to actually cut the meat you have to be "certified" or whatever it is.

 

[Conservative Hippie]

Good mechanics around here make more than I do and I do pretty well, so if that's what DS wanted to do I'd be totally cool with that.

As it is, my DS wants to be an opera singer. It gave me heartburn initially because the chances of real success are so small, but then I realized that it's his life and music brings him joy. Why would I want him to pursue anything less than what makes him feel complete? If he isn't rich, so be it.

I dressed as an opera singer for career day several years in a row! I turned out to be a SAHM who sings on the side. But music and performing is still my passion, and I'm so glad I worked so hard on it, even if it doesn't make me a lot of money. Depending on how old he is, I hope your son is in voice lessons!

 

[Family Fun Mom]

Hmm....I now have that song "Mammas, don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys." running through my head.

My father, as a hobby, works on cars. And i use the "works" loosely, as he hires many others to work on the old autos he purchases and then coordinates the projects. We'll get our hands greasy from time to time, but mainly other mechanics and machinist do the bulk of the lifting. From what I've seen being an auto mechanic isn't the best of jobs concerning pay, or with the work done. All to often auto mechanics can be a pretty seedy crowd to be around. From what I've seen, alcohol, drugs, porn, even gangs can be a problem with this group.

But with that said, I know of a few auto mechanics in town that own their own shops, have reliable reputations, and so do decently well as far as I can tell. I guess like most things, if he wants to be a mechanic aim high - be reliable, do quality work, and be your own boss. It could pay off in pay and also in job enjoyment.

This sounds more like a case of your dad hanging out with a bunch of sleeze bags, rather than mechanics being gang member, porn loving, alcoholics.

The vast majority of mechanics I know (and I know a LOT) are family men.