AIBU to think our 18 year olds should work instead of wasting away weekends?

Didn't they have the jobs pre uni though? As I said my DS was 16 in COVID when he got first job. By the time he got to uni he already had 2 years of work experience

Much easier to get a job if you've had a job so they will be competing for those summer jobs with people who have work experience behind them.

Honestly mine had so much trouble ( in uni during Covid). Eventually both got part time research associate jobs in uni, but were turned down for all hospitality jobs. Seems to be the case for many.

My kids all had jobs from 16 so not that bloody impossible. DS was 16 during COVID and still managed a part time job

She's paying for them

They are allowed time off to have fun surely?
As long as they were doing schoolwork and study when required, and doing chores around the house this wouldn’t bother me.

As long as you're not financially supporting their lifestyle, it's their life to live. They should be enjoying themselves while they still can.

Where are the hundreds of thousands of "holiday" jobs coming from?? Firms are cutting back, not employing more. The days are long gone where we had paper rounds, milk rounds, Saturday jobs in greengrocers or boarding houses, etc. We're now in a corporate world, and corporates aren't interested in helping a local youngster earn a few quid by doing menial work like cleaning, waiting, shop work, delivering milk, etc., as used to happen in the 80s and 90s.

Completely incorrect. Utter waffle.

Don't be ridiculous. They can get plenty of work experience in the holidays.

IB exams start in 6 weeks and the IB revision is insane. Remember they are revising for six different subjects with 3 at higher level. If you think they can pick up a Saturday job now it sounds like you haven’t got your head around what the IB involves, and presumably they have only recently completed all their IAs? It’s a one off, I’d be seeing what revision support they need rather than fretting about their downtime.

That said IB exams finish much earlier than A levels so they will have a big long summer if they are heading to uni. They will have a head start advantage in looking for summer jobs. Thats the time they could be out looking for casual jobs and not getting bored with nothing to do all summer.

As part of their course these young people have had to do " something creative, something active and something that is service for their local community/volunteering " on top of their schoolwork. Dont know how long they do these things but OP said it could be quite a lot and agreed this meant no time for part time jobs. Now this is winding down before the exams OP suddenly wants them to get jobs. That is not the same as a child just doing schoolwork and working a few hours on top. Time enough to work during the summer. The something for the community and possibly the other compulsory parts is already building their cv/ giving them references and contacts.

She does need to be careful that they dont spend all the summer blowing all their inherited money but at the moment she is BU.

I’ve read all your posts several times to see if Im missing something, but I have to say that I think you’re being incredibly unreasonable with your expectations.

Yes indeed - there's a lot of sentimental foolishness apparent on this thread.

My DCs worked at babysitting from their early teens and got hourly part time jobs thanks to the references from people they babysat for, then while at u iversity held down part time jobs. They had long CVs by the time they started interviewing for graduate level career track positions.

Regardless of the difficulty of finding jobs, I bet there are plenty of smart young people out there working part time, and they will reap the benefits when future employers see that they managed time well, getting excellent A level or IB results while also turning up and doing their PT jobs. A student who has no references, no experience dealing with ordinary working environments, and who can show no evidence of ability to manage their time is not going to be as attractive a prospect as one who can show they can keep several plates spinning and still get excellent results.

In today's graduate job market, grades are only a part of the picture a graduate presents to a future employer.

Mine have incredible work ethic and not a bit spoiled.
Not a fan of pt jobs in this house, i prefer they focus on college in term time. Summer no bother but not termtime.
Heavy courses along with an erasmus, they have had enough to be doing.
Such a narrow minded view that they only learn a work ethic and money management from a pt job.
Nor has it held any of them back not working term time. Internships, grad programmes, high end positions. All achieved so far..
Im so so glad i was able to support them in this. A weekend off does not a slacker make.

They need days off ! We all do!

easy come, easy go

no need to work part time, money in the bank and stay up all night watching sport win to parties

Sounds like they’re having a great time. They’re 18, the real world is going to come for them soon enough, let them have fun.

I didn't really have one. I'm an introvert and need downtime which means not being out the house 24/7. Socialising was just another chore for me.

Also, presumably the consequence of not working is not having any/ much spending money? So it’s up to them!

My dd is 17 (yr 12) and her main income source is babysitting for local families rather than an official job. She does WE every Weds pm but that’s not paid.

You say they are working hard for their upcoming exams. This weekend they are enjoying themselves. What’s the problem? My DD needed the occasional day off from intensive study too. At the moment she’s counting the hours til she comes home from Durham and even though she will have some course would to do over the Easter break she will also spend a lot of time sleeping and vegging out. She worked last summer, has a paid internship at uni starting April and another internship abroad this coming summer, it’s not like she’s slacking and I don’t have to give her any money at all.
As long as they are conscientious with their schoolwork, give them a break. However I would expect them to work this coming summer.

It sounds like one weekend where they went out and enjoyed themselves. I have a just turned 18 year old. He hasn't got a job ( he did have in year 12) and I would prefer if he did get a job, but not now, 2 months before exams. DS has been out a lot with various friends for his and their birthdays. He has been doing revision during the weekend as well. It seems a bit of an overreaction to one weekend watching sport during a quite intense time to moan that they should get a job. DS and your DC can look for a job over the very long summer break. They will also most likely have to work into their 70's before they get a State pension, if it even exists anymore by then!

Why don’t you think they should have any down time? Do you work in some capacity every day?

Neither of my two had weekend jobs during their A levels/Btec and both are now the most hard working young people imaginable. Dd danced at a very high level & was also into watching sports & Ds was involved in music & amateur theatre.

can’t blame them for wanting to watch sprint & quali. I know Dd did (plus she was up for Australia GP last weekend. I’ve been to the football this weekend. Everyone needs some relaxation & social time.

Why do they need a job when they are busy in school ? They need downtime, they’ll be working at a real job soon enough for long enough. Give them a weekend off.