Non driving teen and job

[Anonymous]

My 15 year old stepson was very interested in doing odd jobs this summer. With his dad's approval, I gave some basic guidance in pricing his services, some safety guidelines, and creating a flyer. He distributed in our neighborhood and in a neighborhood about two miles away (while his sister had swim lessons).

Anyhow, he accepted a job which would be awesome if it was in our neighborhood. Basically, he needs to go over and turn on a sprinkler and return an hour later to turn it off. The home owner is paying him $40 for a week of this while he is on vacation. Obviously, this would be simple if it was in our neighborhood. But, it's about 20 minutes of biking, and DSS had assumed we would be driving him over twice each night.

So, what do you think is reasonable in this case.

1) Drive him back and forth twice each evening.
2) Split the difference, drive once, and insist he bike it once.
3) Insist he bike over, wait around, and then bike back.
4) Tell the owner he didn't think it through and cannot do the job.
5) Something we haven't thought of.

I don't want to squash his initiative, and this is only the third job he's gotten (and the largest) for all his efforts, but my husband is getting really annoyed with the driving and its only day 3. (I work a lot of nights and can't help most evenings)

Of course, (obgliatory stepson disclaimer) his dad has the final call on how to handle this. But I'm curious what other folks would do.

[Anonymous]

I would be so proud of my son for doing this. I would have him plan on biking but would take him if I was headed that way. Two miles isn't that far and my son has tons of time on his hands so it's not a hardship.

[Anonymous]

Why can't he bike over there, wait around, and bike back? He's 15. He can bring a book to read while he waits.

[Anonymous]

Agree that he should bring a book or Ipad or something and wait around. Get permission from the homeowners to sit in their backyard for that hour or find a nearby Starbucks or bookstore or something. He should wear reflective/light-colored clothing so he can be seen biking in the dark by cars. I'd probably drive him twice a week. It's hard to stay bonded with teens. Hanging out for an hour twice a week is good.

[Anonymous]

I would probably drive him over if I had the time.

[Anonymous]

Is it really even his job and his responsibility if the parent is doing all that back and forth driving?

Maybe you should charge him mileage .

[Anonymous]

Bike, except I would be nice about it when the weather and help when I could.

No chance on committing to drive.

[Anonymous]

3

[Anonymous]

Bike for sure. I don't understand why anyone would have driven him in the first place. He an hang out there or go exploring on his bike or whatever. Better yet, get more odd jobs in the same
Neighborhood!

[Anonymous]

Jesus. I cant believe you are even considering driving him.

[Anonymous]

3. If he wants the money he needs to do the work

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for all the replies.

I totally agree with most of it. First, I'm extremely proud of his initiative. He did all the flyer creation, advertising, and has totally kept to the safety issues we discussed. (No indoor work for people that aren't at least friends of friends) This particular situation was created because he took on all the communication with prospective "clients" on his own. Which, I think, was a very good thing.

My instincts are normally much more hardline than my husbands'. So, yeah, my first reaction was that if he wants to do this, he needs to get himself there. DSS had assumed his dad would drive him, or he wouldn't have taken the job. (Which I understand, it's a pretty big commitment - basically 2 hours start to finish for 8 days in a row, for $40 total)

I really don't think DSS thought through the fact that if his dad is driving him, we are doing pretty much just as much work as he is (since taxi duties have been provided without complaint his entire life!)

Anyhow, I have agreed to stop by there on the way back from camp (DSS is also working as jr counselor), but I'm not going to do special trips. DH has agreed to either insist that DSS bikes (which is not going over well) or drive him without complaint. And DSS has agreed to run logistics of any outside walking distance jobs by us before accepting!

[Anonymous]

Teach him to look on the bright side of things, basically he is getting paid to ride his bike.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teach him to look on the bright side of things, basically he is getting paid to ride his bike.

OP here... Love it!

[Anonymous]

I'd tell him to ride his bike. I'd take or go get him though, if there were lightning.