Teen needs to miss a week at her internship this summer due to family vacation ...

[Anonymous]

MY HS junior has accepted an internship this summer. Because school let out so late this year, the internship started before school even ended. It also interferes with a long planned family vacation. Is it OK for her to miss some time at an unpaid internship? I am worried that she will be exhausted to start the school year in the fall having no break. Anyone else in this situation and can give advice?

[Anonymous]

My first instinct is to say that she needs to stay and complete the entire internship. That said, I guess it depends on the culture and environment of the organization offering the internship. I'm curious to see what others think

[Anonymous]

That's totally normal, OP. Most people take vacation in the summer. If it's a short internship, like 8 weeks or less, it would obviously be better if she finished the internship then took vacation then started school, but that is not always the way life works.

[Anonymous]

She does not NEED to miss a week of her internship.

These are the hard choices. The hard choices of adulthood. And you accepting that she has, is starting to have her own life. And not everything works out. It's tough. It's sad not to spend time with family. That's life.

She could broach the subject with her internship. But don't make this about you - don't have her say, "My mom says I have to ... "

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She does not NEED to miss a week of her internship.

These are the hard choices. The hard choices of adulthood. And you accepting that she has, is starting to have her own life. And not everything works out. It's tough. It's sad not to spend time with family. That's life.

She could broach the subject with her internship. But don't make this about you - don't have her say, "My mom says I have to ... "

OP here: She does have some health issues that make it more of a "need" than it would be otherwise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She does not NEED to miss a week of her internship.

These are the hard choices. The hard choices of adulthood. And you accepting that she has, is starting to have her own life. And not everything works out. It's tough. It's sad not to spend time with family. That's life.

She could broach the subject with her internship. But don't make this about you - don't have her say, "My mom says I have to ... "

OP here: She does have some health issues that make it more of a "need" than it would be otherwise.

If health issues are involved, then you should do what you think is right. Otherwise, part of the bvalue of a summer job/internship is learning that you have to show up, on time, everyday. That is real life.

[Anonymous]

Was it a competitive internship? Did she win it over others? Did she divulge her intention to interrupt the internship with a vacation?

[Anonymous]

Op - just let them know your DC will miss a few days. they won't care. we have interns at my work (HS and college kids) and, since they don't do "real" work, no one cares.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Was it a competitive internship? Did she win it over others? Did she divulge her intention to interrupt the internship with a vacation?

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NP here, I agree this is an important point to clarify. If she made the commitment to work X number of weeks (and knew in advance what the dates were), missing for vacation does not seem acceptable. This is especially true if there was some sort of selection process involved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Was it a competitive internship? Did she win it over others? Did she divulge her intention to interrupt the internship with a vacation?

Yes she did, However, it is a part time position and they told her they would be flexible about the hours.

[Anonymous]

Whatever you both decide, please do NOT talk to her boss for her.

[Anonymous]

Well then, she should offer to work more hours in a week she's here and then take a week off . . .they may say "no need" but it would be good to offer to make-up the hours she's asking to take off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well then, she should offer to work more hours in a week she's here and then take a week off . . .they may say "no need" but it would be good to offer to make-up the hours she's asking to take off.

This is great advice and I +1000 the advice that you absolutely should not talk to the boss for her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Whatever you both decide, please do NOT talk to her boss for her.

+1. And in the future she needs to inform an employer, even an unpaid internship employer, of her plans once she receives an offer and let them decide whether to still offer her the position.

When I hire an intern (mine are paid) i tell them how long the position is for. I don't expect to find out later that they will be missing 10% of the time for vacation. Obviously illness or emergencies are different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She does not NEED to miss a week of her internship.

These are the hard choices. The hard choices of adulthood. And you accepting that she has, is starting to have her own life. And not everything works out. It's tough. It's sad not to spend time with family. That's life.

She could broach the subject with her internship. But don't make this about you - don't have her say, "My mom says I have to ... "

OP here: She does have some health issues that make it more of a "need" than it would be otherwise.

I am a nosy nelly and dying to know what health issue a teen has that requires them to take a vacation.