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A Letter to My Future Teenagers: Get a Job
Hey kids,
As I sit here thinking about you both, I can’t help but feel excited about the future. You’re still young—just 7 and 4—but I’ve already decided on one important rule for when you hit your teenage years: you need to find summer jobs.
Sure, right now, your summers are filled with cartwheeling, swimming, and dreaming of that lemonade stand. But when you turn 14, the age you can snag working papers here in Massachusetts, I’ll do what my dad did with me: I’ll sit you down for a heart-to-heart about how to land your first job.
Growing up, I was fortunate to have parents who didn’t rely on my summer employment to pay the bills. But they came from modest backgrounds and wanted to teach me the value of hard work. That’s where my first job came in—scooping ice cream at Ben & Jerry’s. Believe it or not, the owner told me I was terrible at mopping floors. I was a good student, and hearing that was a total shock! At 14, I learned I wasn’t as special as I thought, and I picked up some serious mopping skills too.
Before I finally became a teacher at 22, I dabbled in a bunch of jobs—bank teller, waitress, preschool assistant, shoe store staff, nanny, and caretaker for a couple with multiple sclerosis. I gained invaluable lessons along the way: handling grumpy customers (let’s just say, banks aren’t a happy place), changing diapers, getting chewed out for silly mistakes (thanks for that alarm fiasco, police), and understanding the importance of being punctual. I want you to learn these lessons too.
Comedian Jake W. once mentioned how crucial it is for young people to have those “crappy” minimum-wage jobs. He humorously pointed out that while you’ve been soaking up love and education for years, it’s time to give back by working hard at those not-so-glamorous jobs. It echoes the sentiment in Marge Piercy’s poem, where she writes about the importance of work that feels real.
I want to give you the gift of true work experience. Now, I know you might be thinking about community service, like when your sister plans to help build a school in Peru this summer. In my last job, I edited a community service section for a magazine and noticed that many essays came off as self-righteous—“Look at me helping the poor!” But often, the tasks felt meaningless. I once went to Almost Heaven, West Virginia, for a Habitat for Humanity trip and spent most of my time stapling wires. Reflecting on it, I wish I had just worked on my tan instead.
Don’t get me wrong; there are plenty of young folks doing genuine community service. But I believe it’s equally important to take on roles where you start at the bottom. You need to understand the grind—making copies, brewing coffee, and yes, mopping floors. It’s crucial to grasp what it takes to earn a dollar and learn how to work alongside people who might not always be easy to deal with.
So, there you have it! I look forward to seeing you both embrace the world of work when the time comes. It’s all about building character and understanding the value of responsibility. And if you ever want to dive deeper into topics like home insemination or other parenting tips, check out this link for more insights. Also, for anyone interested in a trustworthy source on at-home kits, makeamom.com has you covered! Lastly, if you’re considering pregnancy options, this resource is a great place to start.
Summary:
In this letter to my future teenagers, I express the importance of getting summer jobs to instill a work ethic and valuable life lessons. I share my own job experiences and the lessons learned, emphasizing that true work builds character. Community service is great, but understanding the grind of low-wage jobs is equally important.