Anonymous
01/19/2026 13:36
Subject: Teens need to learn some basics about life
I started doing simple things when our kids were in middle school like having them walk up to the counter at the dental office to check in for their own appointments. My name is, I have an appointment at 2, etc. They hated it but I made them do it. I called my youngest (17) out of the blue the other day. Kid was upstairs, I was downstairs, they thought it was funny I was calling from downstairs. I said dinner was ready, but what I really wanted was for them them to pick up a phone line and practice talking over a phone. I make my kids write thank-you cards and address the envelopes. Our neighbor has her teen son mowing elderly neighbor's lawns for them for free as a way to develop work and social skills. Kid is a great kid who can hold a basic conversation with these neighbors and is polite. Get creative.
Anonymous
01/19/2026 13:12
Subject: Teens need to learn some basics about life
Anonymous wrote:I think it’s strange that you would not give a good reference to a teen who couldn’t properly address a letter, despite that being something that teens these days are pretty much never required to do.
Being consistently late; sure that’s not a good thing. But my teens work and they are on time. Not all teens do this.
Maybe use this time to teach/coach them, and if they are still unable to fulfill duties THEN you withhold a good recommendation. Internships are for learning.
These kids are living in the age of the internet. If they can’t google how to do something then initiative and common sense are not up to snuff. There is evidence that cognition has declined in gen z and after and it’s because kids are raised in smartphones by adults addicted to smartphones in schools using screens to take tests and write papers. It’s alarming AF.
Anonymous
01/19/2026 13:05
Subject: Teens need to learn some basics about life
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:These are things parents should be teaching their kids. It isn’t the job of companies to teach how to make a phone call, be on time, etc.
Actually, yes it is. It is the company’s job to teach their employees how to do the job the company expects of them.
Stop being lazy and train your new hires.
I should not have to train 20-somethings to arrive at the office on time, to answer their phone and talk to people who are calling them. How to access their v/m, sure. But then they need to take responsibility and do it. Not ignore the 39 voice mails because they think calling people on the phone is rude.
So stop outsourcing your hiring to AI and don’t hire the young folks that don’t meet your standards.
If these kids are so incompetent it reflects poorly on you - either through incompetent hiring or incompetent training. Sorry!
An incompetent kid is the result of incompetent parenting. Sorry.
Yes! Shocking people are blaming OP. Well..I guess not. They probably have a kid like this.
The defensiveness is something.
Hint: Instead of outsourcing your kids to Kumon and travel soccer, spend a little more time teaching basic life skills.
Anonymous
01/19/2026 12:36
Subject: Teens need to learn some basics about life
Anonymous wrote:It will be hard to write a positive reference for an intern who put something in the mail incorrectly? You sound more ridiculous than the teens. Grow up.
Wait what? You think this is normal?
I’m not the OP, I’m just shocked at how low standards have gotten. An intern not understanding how to send mail is insane.
Anonymous
01/19/2026 12:32
Subject: Teens need to learn some basics about life
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:These are things parents should be teaching their kids. It isn’t the job of companies to teach how to make a phone call, be on time, etc.
Yes, and I can’t believe people are pushing back against it.
To do an internship and then have my child given a bad reference for it? Just don't give one if you have little to say. I can't believe people are supporting bad references for an internship based on an inability to do something once they've never done. I work with people who justify being sued by major companies for their work. Also what place is hiring Ivy league graduates who don't have office staff to do this?
I am in full support of giving bad (accurate) references for grow adult interns that cannot be bothered to figure out or ask how to do something correctly, and take zero care or initiative. Add to take coming in late and leaving early, bad reference fully deserved.
Anonymous
01/19/2026 09:35
Subject: Teens need to learn some basics about life
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:These are things parents should be teaching their kids. It isn’t the job of companies to teach how to make a phone call, be on time, etc.
Yes, and I can’t believe people are pushing back against it.
To do an internship and then have my child given a bad reference for it? Just don't give one if you have little to say. I can't believe people are supporting bad references for an internship based on an inability to do something once they've never done. I work with people who justify being sued by major companies for their work. Also what place is hiring Ivy league graduates who don't have office staff to do this?
Oh. So you're concerned this could actually be your kid.
Anonymous
01/19/2026 09:34
Subject: Teens need to learn some basics about life
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:These are things parents should be teaching their kids. It isn’t the job of companies to teach how to make a phone call, be on time, etc.
Yes, and I can’t believe people are pushing back against it.
To do an internship and then have my child given a bad reference for it? Just don't give one if you have little to say. I can't believe people are supporting bad references for an internship based on an inability to do something once they've never done. I work with people who justify being sued by major companies for their work. Also what place is hiring Ivy league graduates who don't have office staff to do this?
Just teach your kids how to send a letter. Or teach them to ask when they don’t know how to do something. That’s the most important part. It sounds like the kids don’t know how to do it, don’t ask, and hope it goes away yet never completes the task.
If an intern came to me and said “hey, it’s funny but I actually don’t know how to address an envelope. Could you show me real quick?” That’s no problem.
The envelopes are just an example. It could be anything.
Anonymous
01/19/2026 09:29
Subject: Teens need to learn some basics about life
OP.what job required these interns to send handwritten letters?
Anonymous
01/19/2026 09:26
Subject: Teens need to learn some basics about life
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:These are things parents should be teaching their kids. It isn’t the job of companies to teach how to make a phone call, be on time, etc.
Yes, and I can’t believe people are pushing back against it.
To do an internship and then have my child given a bad reference for it? Just don't give one if you have little to say. I can't believe people are supporting bad references for an internship based on an inability to do something once they've never done. I work with people who justify being sued by major companies for their work. Also what place is hiring Ivy league graduates who don't have office staff to do this?
Anonymous
01/19/2026 09:22
Subject: Teens need to learn some basics about life
[list]
Oh look, the “fool” poster is back.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Wow. Lots of parents who don’t get it. Maybe that’s the issue?
I work with your teenagers, and I can say with full confidence that professionalism is an issue. Young people think everyone should accommodate them all the time. No.
These interns are there to work. It sounds like they’re actually creating more work for everyone else. You can’t do that in a workplace.
Bolded is part of training people, fool.
Oh look, the “fool” poster is back.
Anonymous
01/19/2026 09:15
Subject: Teens need to learn some basics about life
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:These are things parents should be teaching their kids. It isn’t the job of companies to teach how to make a phone call, be on time, etc.
Actually, yes it is. It is the company’s job to teach their employees how to do the job the company expects of them.
Stop being lazy and train your new hires.
I should not have to train 20-somethings to arrive at the office on time, to answer their phone and talk to people who are calling them. How to access their v/m, sure. But then they need to take responsibility and do it. Not ignore the 39 voice mails because they think calling people on the phone is rude.
So stop outsourcing your hiring to AI and don’t hire the young folks that don’t meet your standards.
If these kids are so incompetent it reflects poorly on you - either through incompetent hiring or incompetent training. Sorry!
An incompetent kid is the result of incompetent parenting. Sorry.
Yes! Shocking people are blaming OP. Well..I guess not. They probably have a kid like this.
+1 It’s weird that people are getting on their high horse about their kids being know nothings. Congrats, I guess? Your kid got the benefit of the doubt that they knew basic life skills and turns out they didn’t? Yay, you.
Anonymous
01/19/2026 08:48
Subject: Teens need to learn some basics about life
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:These are things parents should be teaching their kids. It isn’t the job of companies to teach how to make a phone call, be on time, etc.
Actually, yes it is. It is the company’s job to teach their employees how to do the job the company expects of them.
Stop being lazy and train your new hires.
I think it's reasonable to expect the basics to come installed in new employees. How to return a basic phone call, how to deal with paper mail, how to respond to email in general (the specifics can be tailored to the company). These aren't company specific skills. These are life skills. Yes, employees should arrive at the workplace with life skills.
I have two teens and getting them to check their personal email is crazy making. And, they are working on crafting appropriate responses in logical, full sentences. But, they have jobs so that's something.
Anonymous
01/19/2026 08:41
Subject: Teens need to learn some basics about life
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:These are things parents should be teaching their kids. It isn’t the job of companies to teach how to make a phone call, be on time, etc.
Actually, yes it is. It is the company’s job to teach their employees how to do the job the company expects of them.
Stop being lazy and train your new hires.
I should not have to train 20-somethings to arrive at the office on time, to answer their phone and talk to people who are calling them. How to access their v/m, sure. But then they need to take responsibility and do it. Not ignore the 39 voice mails because they think calling people on the phone is rude.
So stop outsourcing your hiring to AI and don’t hire the young folks that don’t meet your standards.
If these kids are so incompetent it reflects poorly on you - either through incompetent hiring or incompetent training. Sorry!
An incompetent kid is the result of incompetent parenting. Sorry.
Yes! Shocking people are blaming OP. Well..I guess not. They probably have a kid like this.
Anonymous
01/19/2026 08:19
Subject: Teens need to learn some basics about life
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:These are things parents should be teaching their kids. It isn’t the job of companies to teach how to make a phone call, be on time, etc.
Actually, yes it is. It is the company’s job to teach their employees how to do the job the company expects of them.
Stop being lazy and train your new hires.
I should not have to train 20-somethings to arrive at the office on time, to answer their phone and talk to people who are calling them. How to access their v/m, sure. But then they need to take responsibility and do it. Not ignore the 39 voice mails because they think calling people on the phone is rude.
So stop outsourcing your hiring to AI and don’t hire the young folks that don’t meet your standards.
If these kids are so incompetent it reflects poorly on you - either through incompetent hiring or incompetent training. Sorry!
An incompetent kid is the result of incompetent parenting. Sorry.
Anonymous
01/19/2026 08:14
Subject: Teens need to learn some basics about life
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:These are things parents should be teaching their kids. It isn’t the job of companies to teach how to make a phone call, be on time, etc.
Right… that’s OP’s entire point [/quote
But it seems like not everyone agrees with this. If your kid is applying for an internship without any prior work experience, that’s a parental failure. Stop signing your kid up for all of these ridiculous summer programs and make them get a regular summer job.