Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3 4

Original poster

Paper round in a Range Rover

95 replies

Incywincyspinster · 10/09/2016 23:40

When I was a kid a paper round was a right of passage between childhood and getting a proper job. It was the beginning of our independence. We went out in all weathers and did it in dark mornings and evenings too. If we were lucky we'd persuade a pal to come along for the fun of it.

Our local paperboy gets driven around his route by his mum in a rangerover or his dad in a jaguar. It's not weather dependent as they're there in the sunshine too. They did the same with his brother in the years he was doing the round.

Aibu in thinking this is a bit strange, or is it the norm to be accompanied by parents in expensive top of the range motors on your paper round ?

OP posts:

NoahVale · 11/09/2016 09:51

my dd was out in all weathers on her bike, for years, delivering papers. A valuable service.

op are the houses spread out?

NoahVale · 11/09/2016 09:52

anyway op, at least the paperboy in the range rover is working and earning.

Original poster

Incywincyspinster · 11/09/2016 10:55

Yup he certainly is working and earning and I'm sure once he's a lawyer his mummy can drop him off & pick him up or even come in to make him his lunch too (this actually happened with a summer intern once)

I really dont care what kind of car it is, its not a jealousy thing either, I neither want a Range Rover nor an entitled lazy non-independent teen.

I know there are no SN issues, no mobility issues etc.

Work for teens should be about learning to be independent. This isn't independence

OP posts:

yeOldeTrout · 11/09/2016 10:56

Have to be 13 in UK to have a round. DS did his round on his own at age... 15? I think from Landrover is strange too, but I'm an ecofreak. I might well walk around with my kid if I thought they needed a chaperone.

At least they are supportive parents. Some kids don't have that much.

KoalaDownUnder · 11/09/2016 10:58

Completely agree with you, Incy.

CodyKing · 11/09/2016 11:01

Work for teens should be about learning to be independent. This isn't independence

Yep - he should give it up and mom and dad can sub him the £15 in pocket money instead - which will teach them about independence!!!

Therealbridgetjones · 11/09/2016 11:04

Where do you live and what is the round like?

I used to do a paper round (10 or so years ago now) and a couple of adults did rounds in their cars; the rounds were miles away from the newsagent and the houses that had papers delivered were really far apart so it ended up being a long-distance round (if you see what I mean). It wasn't really possible on a bike.

It really is a terrible job, I remember the weekend papers being so heavy with supplements I had to go back to the shop twice to get more. But in hindsight all the cycling kept me very lean and fit!

KoalaDownUnder · 11/09/2016 11:05

Yep - he should give it up and mom and dad can sub him the £15 in pocket money instead - which will teach them about independence!!!

Or, you know, do his job himself.

LikeDylanInTheMovies · 11/09/2016 11:07

Yep - he should give it up and mom and dad can sub him the £15 in pocket money instead - which will teach them about independence

And I suppose being driven around using petrol he doesn't pay for, eating up the time of his parents (which he doesn't pay for) is teaching him all about being self reliant.

MrsJayy · 11/09/2016 11:10

I know a woman who did 2 paper rounds with 2 sons in different streets 1 son did the free paper she sorted those with him before they left. 1 son is an engineer the other is studying bio chemistry or something soo I dont think parents giving a hand is a bad thing. Dd did the free paper for a while i helped her put the million leaflets in them before she went out delivering.

LikeDylanInTheMovies · 11/09/2016 11:12

And it is almost certainly costing his parents more than £15 a week in fuel for daily stop-start journeys in a couple of gas guzzlers so it isn't a job he's got, but the world's most boring hobby.

NeedsAsockamnesty · 11/09/2016 11:15

Perhaps they just enjoy the time together

user1471734618 · 11/09/2016 11:19

My son and I used to do 2 paper rounds together and split the proceeds. I do not think it was anyone's business really.
We used the van for the furthest ones. So waht?

Wdigin2this · 11/09/2016 11:29

I once someone who paid her son not to do a paperound......

PinkyOfPie · 11/09/2016 11:30

You took half the paper round money from your son? did you do it all in the car/van?

CodyKing · 11/09/2016 11:32

I once someone who paid her son not to do a paperound......

Yep - DD does a round -

Most of DD friends get an allowance - lowest is £150 a month

One gets £200 from each parent per month

Who values the money more?

takesnoprisoners · 11/09/2016 11:44

Our local paperboy still uses a bicycle and when it rains He uses a raincoat and covers the newspapers with a bag. He also delivers the local free newspaper every Friday and brings his dog along. :)

AGreatBigWorld · 11/09/2016 11:51

Our local shop no longer employs paperboys. I deliver the papers to Wilf's Grandma who lives opposite and two other elderly people in our road!

PinkyOfPie · 11/09/2016 12:08

£150 a month pocket money!!!

One of the many reason I'm sticking to just 2 kids

Original poster

Incywincyspinster · 11/09/2016 12:36

Yep - he should give it up and mom and dad can sub him the £15 in pocket money instead - which will teach them about independence!!!

Where did anyone suggest the alternative was giving it up? How about y'know exercise? The mum wears gym gear so she can't be averse to exercising.

It's a suburban area, shoebox houses rammed in close together and the newsagent tries to give every kid a couple of streets to work on so everyone is getting a round so it's not like he has miles to cover.

As for giving kids £150 a month pocket money... I'll happily teach my child if she wants that kind of money regularly she can get off her Arse to work for it on her own.

OP posts:

Dawndonnaagain · 11/09/2016 12:44

I know there are no SN issues, no mobility issues etc.
Do you? Really? 100%.
I used to drive one of mine on a paper round. His EDS and Scoliosis aren't visible. My neighbours don't know about his issues and neither did some of his teachers.

NoahVale · 11/09/2016 12:53

perhaps his mum is very paranoid.

NoahVale · 11/09/2016 12:54

and of course he and his brother may have a disability you dont know about.

surely they are not doing you any harm.
there must be a reason, I know, why dont you ask them

user1471734618 · 11/09/2016 12:55

" You took half the paper round money from your son? "

well it was my paper round, we lived above the shop. He helped me and got half the money. Is that mean? It certainly got him out of bed in the morning!
We had to stop when his class teacher complained about it to SS.

NoahVale · 11/09/2016 12:56

what did SS have to think about it user?
and how old was your dc?

Flip

1 2 3 4