Why Don't We Want Our Kids To Work?

Most of us in the middle class and older than 50 can remember that getting that first job, that first paycheck was a badge of honor. What in this generation of caregivers feels that work demeans and belittles them and their children?  No one said kids having a job was any poor reflection on parenting or your net worth.

Parents now and especially those with generational wealth are learning the hard reality that children given too much without purpose are falling into addictions and social deficits.  Working and finding your passion bring each of us a measure of satisfaction.

Finding one’s true passion and self-worth is mind blowing. Don’t confuse my intent on this message – I don’t believe money, a job or status bring self-worth.  I do believe there is a lot of learning and self-examination during our first jobs outside of our parents’ direction. During our first jobs, you see what you are really made of.   

Most of us by 25 realize that “money in and of itself” doesn’t make you happy or give you satisfaction.  The paycheck is a fraction of the reward.  The real reward comes from leveraging all of the skills of what you bring to the table.  Finding out who we are outside of family is the purpose that makes or breaks us.

We can all labor using tools, IT, body parts, and our mind, but what gives us the greatest pride and delight is accomplishing something it took a beat to figure out. The task that brought fear, uncertainty, and questions was conquered because we figured it out.  Part of life is “figuring out” the crap no one prepared us for.  The crap we had no clue about and yet we overcame.

The challenges we face are all different. We all swing at different targets. Let your kids start swinging. Their first swings and frustrations should be encountered under the safety of your roof and assurance.  If you allow them to inch out of the nest, then they at least have your encouragement and perspective to fall back on.

Birds trust their chicks to fly and not have a free fall to death.  Trust that your kid can survive an application and hiring process.

You are reading this blog because editors from LinkedIn asked me to weigh-in on a topic to encourage and provide recommendation for those losing their jobs and being surrounded by uncertainty. 

I went on LinkedIn expecting to take 2 minutes to drop a couple of thoughts and be on my merry way.  I ended up writing 7 practical tips and wrote so much so I went over the character limit. I had to break the tips into 3 parts. I’ve seen more impressions on the topics of those practical tips than in years. The tip that surprised me to write was telling parents to have kids get a job to contribute.

That was a no brainer but had to be said today. It’s not a Facebook brain teaser.  It’s reality -let your kids work!