Preparing kids for independence

One of the best things for my 17-year-old this summer has been the opportunity to have a job that pays above the minimum wage and that will look pretty decent on a resume. This summer he has been working as a lifeguard at a local natatorium. Little does he know that I sort of had this planned for him for a couple of years!

My own high school money making ventures included typing address labels for 1 cent per label (which came to 33 cents for an entire page of labels) and working at McDonalds. Those were okay jobs and learned from them, but I think it would have been better for me if the jobs I had were more connected to things I was really interested in.

Flash forward 30 years. Calvin is 15 and after ten years of playing soccer, his options were to play on the high school level or on a league. At that time I suggested that maybe he could take the ref courses and become a soccer ref. He liked my suggestion and took the classes. His first season was a little tricky while he learned to be the authority on the field and deal with parents and players, but after several seasons, (and attaining a height of 6 feet 1 inch) he commands whatever field his assigned to officiate over. That naturally transferred over to his job as a Lifeguard where he is often the authority at the pool. With his swim training and his experience as a soccer ref, being a lifeguard was a good progression.

I’m trying to stear my second son on his own path. He loves to bake and cook and he took that cake decorating class last spring. Hopefully with a few more classes he’ll be able to decorate cakes and make extra money for himself that way. But he is also a gifted pianist and with the shortage of musicians around here to play for mass, I hope to get him more comfortable in the chruch setting so he can fill in there too as needed. Playing for masses would be a great way for him to serve the community as well as make some extra money. Our area also has many dance studios and pianists are needed to accompany ballet classes. He would have to build up a lot more repertoire, but that is definitely a psosibility for him in late high school or college.

It might be a little early to determine what my third son might like to try. He has a definite affinity for little kids, so the old fashioned role of babysitter might be where he’s headed. I think he could be very good at that and have lots of clients. Time will tell.

I think it’s important that a child’s first venture into the working world be a positive one and if it can be associated with his/her own interests more the better. If parents can help to identify what those interests are, they can have a headstart in helping them identify training and other opportunities that will help prepare them for their future.

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