When I turned 16 a couple of major changes took place
that had a radical effect on the way I am today.
1) I got a job and started paying room and board.
2) I started doing my own laundry.
Mind you, I didn't want to do either one of these
things. I was quite happy with the previous
arrangement of having a lot of things done
'automatically' for me. I never gave a second thought
about hot meals, clean clothes, fresh towels and
bedding. When I needed a ride, taxi-mom or taxi-dad
were ready and waiting with the car already warmed up
from carting my 6 other brothers and sisters around.
Up until that time, basically all I had to do was
behave as much as possible and help out with a couple
of menial chores around the house.
My first job was working in a small grocery store for
$1.60/ hour. (geez, this guy is REALLY old!) I worked
whenever I could, sometimes logging 60 hours a week
during the summer time, happy as all-get-out to bring
home my $70 after taxes. And waiting at the door for
me on pay-day was mom.
We argued. I reeled vehemently against her logic. She
always won!
One day I was complaining about the cost of things and
told my mom flat out that I would start doing things
for and by myself. I reasoned that things just
couldn't be as hard or cost as much as she was making
them out to be. She agreed with one stipulation... I
couldn't use her appliances! She simply couldn't
afford to have her machines out of service for even one
day; not with the gang we had.
"Fine", I said. We reached a compromise that would
save me some cash and take some of the work load off of
her. Mom even went so far as to buy me a laundry
basket - (albeit with my money!)
I did my own laundry. I went on to buy my own clothes,
car and even put myself through college.
Tough love? You bet!
If I had kids of my own, I most likely would have done
things differently.
On the other hand, when I see the way many of my
students are brought up today, it makes me wonder if
they would not benefit from some of that tough love.
Maybe it's just where I live. I see kids refusing to
take jobs because they don't want to do 'that kind of
work'. Or they will keep a job just long enough to pay
for the 'prom' or whatever special event comes along
and quit shortly thereafter.
Upon graduation, there's a new car... not like the six
year old junker I bought for my first car... we're
talking brand new Lexus, Altima, BMW... statooos! I
think the parents get more of a kick out of the
bragging rights than the kids.
Then there's college (or University, as they
like to call it in these parts!) Again, it's expected
that mom and dad will foot the bill.
And don't forget the $30,000 wedding topped off with a
two-bedroom starter home thrown in for good measure.
Sorry to say, but a lot of the teens I know can't even
blow their own nose. Again, I'm hoping this only
happens in my little corner of the world.
The scary thing is, we'll soon be handing over control
to these kids. And what have they learned about
controlling their own lives when literally everything
has been done for them?
I'd love to get some feedback and hear some debate on
this important issue. Are today's kids equipped to
handle responsibility? Sadly, my vote would be no.
Please tell me how wrong I am!
Stirring up controversy here in Toronto,
Russ
Posted by russhamel
