What do your teens do when they aren't in school/college?

[topsytoo]

DD is 16, almost 17, and does fuck all on her days off of college. She is in college 3 told a week, 9 until 1 and then has 2 days completely free where she does nothing but sit around watching telly and on her phone and then the weekend which is the same!
So 4 days of fuck all and 3 days of college!!!

I just feel like she should be doing something.

On the one hand you say she doesn't do anything. Then make excuses about her actually not being able to do anything when judging by her timetable there is plenty of time.

Why wouldn't it be fair. She has Thursday and Sunday off one week and Monday and Sunday off the next. Why cant she work on Sundays.

How would you feel working full time, 45-50 hours a week, and then be expected to get a job on your days off just because you're 16/17? It isn't fair is it and I know I wouldn't be happy about.

OP, I think we might live in the same town, there isn't a lot of prt time work around here and a lot of it they want you to be able to commit to a set amount of time. We worked round it by saying they will commit to to the certain amount of time and then cutting down the hours during the time they had other stuff on until they could leave. So I'm your case say she can commit to 6 months and then after 5 months ask to cut her hours for the last month so she only has to work the days off. It means she will have to work 2 jobs and be knackered for a month but at least she will be doing something during the 5 months.

Lasagna I personally used to do several jobs 7am -11pm and worked every weekend.

DD is in college 9am-6pm 5 days per week = 45 hours per week
1 evening and 1 day per week she works = 12 hours per week. Training on a Sunday and 4 nights per week= between 7-10 hours per week. Also she goes to auditions and looks for other jobs.

On top of that she has just booked herself driving lessons and has decided to learn a musical instrument.

She also sees friends every few weeks. Most of her friends work or train to the same extent. A lot leave college at 6 pm and a have a quick commute to their next job and start at 6.30pm -10.30/11pm

I doubt any would think it as unfair. If you want to get ahead it is about putting the hours in.

It is about building up a cv and showing you aren't afraid of hard work.

I have to agree with lasagna as I've witnessed how hard it is! My son was working at our local shop when he got offered a job he actually wanted to do. He obviously had to still work his 6 week notice period at the shop whilst doing his new job but after his notice period was up his boss made out like he never actually gave the notice and only asked to do evenings and weekends so he then had to give his notice again in email and a letter which the boss signed a copy of to prove he got it and work 2 jobs another 6 weeks. For 12 weeks he was leaving the house at 7:30 and not getting again until 11 at night and then working 10 till 6 at weekends. The damage it did to his relationship still hasn't completely been repaired a year later, he lost way to much weight as he didn't have time to eat between jobs, was too tired to eat once he got home and would usually work through his lunch so he could leave earlier to get to his second job and he was really depressed and had to start taking medication he had previously gone almost 3 years without!

It's too much pressure for them. I get the OP wants her DD to do something and not just lounge around but working 2 jobs for the sake of it isn't necessary!

Unless they really need the money, and I'm sorry but no 16 still living with their parents needs money so much they work all day everyday, please do not force your children into doing 2 jobs!

Sorry your son had such a hard time molly, I won't be expecting her to work 2 jobs anyway as I agree it's uneeded.

I more wanted to see what sort of hobbies people had rather than jobs.

DS 17yrs - playing football, watching football, comp games, or annoying younger sister. Not forgetting the endless eating me out of house and home.