Holly: Alix is such a CHILD. Running around the yard making up goofy games...
Val: And you're too grown-up for that?
Holly: SNORT
YES.
Val: Then it must be time for YOU to find a job!
Holly: Who wants to build a fort?!
I honestly don’t understand parents who use the prospect of a summer job as a threat (subtle or not). Do you actually WANT your kids to shirk and detest work for the rest of their lifes? Do you want them to see working as something bad?
Present it as a treat instead. You are grown up enough now to get a summer job. That is good because you will earn money you can spend however you like. It won’t always work entirely, but it is better than presenting it as something negative like this. If I recall correctly, Holly actually started to like building houses that one summer. Holly may be spoiled and bratty at times, but I feel like a lot of that lays on the shoulders of Val’s parenting methods.
I honestly don’t understand parents who use the prospect of a summer job as a threat (subtle or not). Do you actually WANT your kids to shirk and detest work for the rest of their lifes? Do you want them to see working as something bad?
Present it as a treat instead. You are grown up enough now to get a summer job. That is good because you will earn money you can spend however you like. It won’t always work entirely, but it is better than presenting it as something negative like this. If I recall correctly, Holly actually started to like building houses that one summer. Holly may be spoiled and bratty at times, but I feel like a lot of that lays on the shoulders of Val’s parenting methods.