what is wrong with modern kids and no motivation to shovel?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The expectation of child labor seems like a lazy adult

They live in the house too. If your teen is inside online while his parents shovel, you have raised lazy children. That's on you. You're gonna hear all about that from their future wives.

That's not what this thread is about. This thread is complaining that teens aren't knocking on doors because they want to earn money. Not shoveling at their own houses where they live. Different circumstances. My teen isn't going to take my neighbor's trash out either.

[Anonymous]

Shovel your own driveways! My three lovely teen sons are busy having fun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Many of these kids are studying because that is their full time job and they carry heavy academic loads that include tons of honors and AP classes. So let them study OP, they want to work smart and not hard when they grow up. Besides many neighborhoods have crews to come in and do that hard work.

Lol! Do you mean gated neighborhoods with huge HOA fees? Please. Your kid has time to do his/her work and contribute to their household at the very least but you've made everything so easy for them that they have zero desire to work for money. You give them everything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you didn't have teens in your neighborhood shoveling it says more about where you chose to live than it says about teens "these days"... teens and tweens were out all day here shoveling.

It says more about where one can afford to live.

No. Chose. Many can afford other neighborhoods but then you have to think about who are your neighbors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The reason you can't a neighbor team for labor is that half the houses on your block are occupied by elderly Boomers who won't sell their houses to families who need houses.

Why should people be expected to sell the homes they worked their entire lives to pay for? Young families can find their own housing. They might need to buy a condo or rowhouse (SHOCKING!).

I agree with you but when elderly neighbors aren't selling their homes and moving into something more manageable, they shouldn't be complaining that the neighborhood teens don't want to shovel them out. If you can no longer take care of your home and don't have the help lined up to do so when needed, it might be time to move.

[Anonymous]

And stop worrying so much about what OTHER people’s kids are and are not doing and turn that focus and attention on your children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My twelve year old and his best friend have made $500 over the last two days. But, they haven’t been going door to door. They have been using the neighborhood list serv. There are lots of kids posting on there. Maybe you just aren’t seeing them because they are using new technology.

Nope, our listserv is desperate for people to shovel. Literally zero kids offering to shovel in our area.

Why do you want children to work for you? Hire adult workers like a normal person. Plenty of landscape companies make their winter money in snow removal.

I get hundreds of landscaping ads spring through fall, and 0 snow shoveling ads. I sure some guys are willing to do the job, but first, it's hard to travel in these conditions and that's why it's a "neighbor kid" job, and second, it's not a regular job, not even every year, so people don't have the business connections to make arrangements, and third, it's hard to make arrangements on short notice with short due date and not knowing how much work will be needed where and when.

Every HOA has a contract with private snow removal. These guys are not hard to find or to hire. You do have to plan ahead, but even if you're not willing to contract for the season, this storm was forecast more than a week out.

People don't want to plan, or pool funds with neighbors, or even advertise before or during the storm that they'd be willing to pay. And then they're mad when there isn't a local labor force knocking on their door asking for work

[Anonymous]

What is the earliest age for kid to shovel your home for free or go to neighborhood to shovel to get paid? What do you provide them with? Just a shovel or more fancy tools like snowblower or salt?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mine would rather go sledding and hang out with their friends. It's still a snow day for them and they are still kids. They want to enjoy it. 20 years from now, those are the memories they will remember, not earning $40-50 for two hours of hard manual labor.

They can do both.

Shoveling snow is also memorable, and it builds confidence and character in a young adult learning to be an independent adult..

It's OK to say your kids are spoiled rich kids.

Ha! I don't let my kids shovel for strangers, our drive-way is done and we also helped neighbors for free. Shovel your own snow! Get your coat on and do your own driveway, instead of being lazy and cheap!

Why?

Because if you don't want to shovel your own snow and nobody you know doesn't want to do that for you either (your kids, grandkids, friends or neighbors), you're probably not a very nice and kind person! Meaning, you're a taker!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I remember as a kid loving snow because it meant we could go door to door and earn cold hard cash shoveling. It was great earning $200 bucks for a few hours of work.

Now I'm reading in DC that it is a sidewalk apocalypse because no one shoveled their walkways. It is too late now because it is packed down into ice, but where are the kids going door to door to make loot? It was a goldmine opportunity if they went out and made some effort. They even had multiple rounds of opportunity for shoveling due to the hours of snowfall and days off from school. I bet they could have easily made $2000 going door to door all day.

What happened to modern kids? Parent too scared? Or are they completely demotivated because they're stuck on their screens the whole time scrolling TikTok? It is great exercise too.

Maybe they are shoveling their own driveways? My kid was out there for hours yesterday and the day before and is out there again now. This stuff takes time. He also went to help our elderly neighbor did out (before we were even fully dug out), and no he didn't charge her for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mine would rather go sledding and hang out with their friends. It's still a snow day for them and they are still kids. They want to enjoy it. 20 years from now, those are the memories they will remember, not earning $40-50 for two hours of hard manual labor.

+ 1 I agree, theyre kids, have fun, its a snowball day!

Lol, mine shoveled with friends, came home and flashed their cash, and, direct quote: "This was better than sledding!"

Pretty sure it will also be something they remember.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many of these kids are studying because that is their full time job and they carry heavy academic loads that include tons of honors and AP classes. So let them study OP, they want to work smart and not hard when they grow up. Besides many neighborhoods have crews to come in and do that hard work.

Lol! Do you mean gated neighborhoods with huge HOA fees? Please. Your kid has time to do his/her work and contribute to their household at the very least but you've made everything so easy for them that they have zero desire to work for money. You give them everything.

Put eyes on your household troll. What my kid has time for is not your business.

[Anonymous]

One of my middle brothers was beaten by a grown man and had his shovel stolen. Years later, his face still looks different on one side. Not worth the money.

[Anonymous]

If you're serious, put an add on Nextdoor with $$$ you're willing to pay and I'm sure you'll find someone willing to do the work, even with plows. Hoping neighborhood kids will do it for free or for cheap is just that, a hope.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My twelve year old and his best friend have made $500 over the last two days. But, they haven’t been going door to door. They have been using the neighborhood list serv. There are lots of kids posting on there. Maybe you just aren’t seeing them because they are using new technology.

Nope, our listserv is desperate for people to shovel. Literally zero kids offering to shovel in our area.

Why do you want children to work for you? Hire adult workers like a normal person. Plenty of landscape companies make their winter money in snow removal.

I get hundreds of landscaping ads spring through fall, and 0 snow shoveling ads. I sure some guys are willing to do the job, but first, it's hard to travel in these conditions and that's why it's a "neighbor kid" job, and second, it's not a regular job, not even every year, so people don't have the business connections to make arrangements, and third, it's hard to make arrangements on short notice with short due date and not knowing how much work will be needed where and when.

Every HOA has a contract with private snow removal. These guys are not hard to find or to hire. You do have to plan ahead, but even if you're not willing to contract for the season, this storm was forecast more than a week out.

People don't want to plan, or pool funds with neighbors, or even advertise before or during the storm that they'd be willing to pay. And then they're mad when there isn't a local labor force knocking on their door asking for work

So tone deaf. Do you know how much is costs to have people shovel for you? Nope. Most people don't have that kind of money just sitting around. Get out of your HOA bubble.