where are all the teenagers at?

[Abbie]

All the teens I know have been swamped trying to clear out their OWN homes! Including my 16 year old, he's worked like a dog trying to keep us clear. We paid two guys who came by with a 4 wheeler and a plow to plow our driveway three times during this last blizzard. My DS was out with them every time, helping out and jockeying the cars that weren't in the garage, even at midnight. All without complaint and with two shoulder surgeries under his belt....his shoulder HURTS!

No lazy, internet surfing, video game playing teen around here! The amount of snow is overwhelming and there's no place to put it anymore.

I get tired of the lazy teen generalizations sometimes. The ones I know really are hard working, good kids for the most part.

 

[hereyago]

Let me give ya an example of why you might not worry yourself so much about it:

I'm snowbound which has put a dent in my gym time. So yesterday I said, "heck, I can burn as much or as many calories shoveling snow." So that's what I did. DH and boys sat inside on the computer because I WANTED to be out there. And sure as shootin there comes the nosey neighbor inquiring upon my oh-so-strong male family members.

He does the same when I mow. Purty little thing like me can't get her nails dirty I suppose.

Again, don't worry about it.

Hun,
I don't worry about that. Just because you wanted to be out there, don't assume she wanted to it. I mow, I shovel, but if a man is going to live here, he better do more then eat my food and have bedroom fun.

 

[gina2000]

We had plenty of kids walking around looking for work.

I love to shovel and was out there 3 times yesterday and a long time this morning.

 

[disykat]

I have two teens. We have snow rarely but I know they haven't gone looking for shoveling jobs, they're too busy with the shoveling jobs they already have! They shovel ours and a neighbor's for free, then if they can get out of the neighborhood they head over to help with the church parking lot. From there they sometimes get people wanting to hire them.

My kids do quite a bit of yardwork etc. for the neighbors, but they've never had to go looking for work. They have people coming over to them everytime they're outside.

 

[Piglets Mommy]

We had plenty of teens out shoveling driveways in our neighborhood over the last week. With as much snow as we got, I'm sure they did very well. My DS10 says he can't wait till he's old enough to shovel for $$$.

 

[Patricia]

My son and his friend shoveled on Saturday with our first 18 inch storm. They earned $60 which I thought was way too much money. Yesterday and today, they were both working on school work which was sent home with them on Tuesday in anticipation of the snow days. Maybe the teens in your neighborhood had work too?

 

[PatsGirl]

I think a lot of it is that the parents give these kids everything without the kid having to "earn' it. Why would they want to go out and shovel snow when they have the things they want?

By the time my son was about 10, if there was way he could make money, I refused to pay for movies, etc. for him that week/month, etc. So he knew if it snowed and he didn't go shovel walks, I'd shut him off for that following weekend He was always expected to do my elderly neighbor's walk for free (well, they paid in Butterfingers) and help out here at home as well.

His friends, on the other hand, never left their video games and yet Mom would hand over $10 for the movies on Saturday and another $5 for Mickey D's on Sunday, you get the picture....shame too, it's these same kids that aren't holding down jobs right now. Sure, some go to college but can't seem to find the time to work 10 hours a week for their pizza and beer $$ which Mom gladly hands over still because "Johnny" is working so hard to maintain those average grades at college, lol

 

[mjkacmom]

I think they are all hanging out in SundaeAfternoons backyard. JJKing!

 

[Pluto 2]

I'm 17. I shoveled out my own driveway today. As tedious and not-tiring as it was, my back still hurts. Most of my friends shovel out theirs. Sorry we don't do your work for you, even if we would get paid.

at 17 your back hurts

 

[ladycollector]

at 17 your back hurts

I don't see why that's so odd? I'm 20 and I have tons of problems.

Sorry, I just hate the attitude that just because you're young you MUST be the picture of health and be perfect.


As far as the snow thing, I grew up in FL so I never had a chance, but I had a job starting at 14, and eventually ended up doing room service (+tips) at the Hilton, so I don't think I would have wanted to shovel snow unless I was doing it to help someone elderly out.

 

[MushyMushy]

I'm 17. I shoveled out my own driveway today. As tedious and not-tiring as it was, my back still hurts. Most of my friends shovel out theirs. Sorry we don't do your work for you, even if we would get paid.

It's a shame you feel that way.

A friend of mine was telling me that her son and a couple of her friends were asking for $20 to shovel driveways -- one guy was so pleased with the kids, he gave them $300. That's $100 each for a lousy 20 minutes of work that those 15 year olds polished off easily.

The 3 boys who did our walk went away with $30 for about 15 minutes of work.

Even if they worked for 2 hours, they were raking in quite a lot of cash. Smart kids.

 

[PatsGirl]

It's a shame you feel that way.

A friend of mine was telling me that her son and a couple of her friends were asking for $20 to shovel driveways -- one guy was so pleased with the kids, he gave them $300. That's $100 each for a lousy 20 minutes of work that those 15 year olds polished off easily.

The 3 boys who did our walk went away with $30 for about 15 minutes of work.

Even if they worked for 2 hours, they were raking in quite a lot of cash. Smart kids.

Enterprising kids turn into successful adults ~ lazy/spoiled kids turn into adults who wake up each day thinking the world owes them something Sure, as a young girl I didn't want to shovel either, but I earned money other ways (after helping shovel family and grandparents) by babysitting and housework. But if I didn't have spending money or a sitting job, you betch your butt I was out there shoveling for muulah