Is your older teen working this summer? If so what?

[Trumporange]

I'm curious - most of the dc we know who have just finished sixth form are not working this summer and I cannot get my head around this.
I worked from 16 onwards every school and then university holiday.

They have about three months off before heading to university. The majority seem to be travelling for a few weeks with friends and going on a family holiday and pottering about in between. Is this the norm now? Note most of these kids are from comfortable middle class families - not staggeringly rich but well off enough.

Thanks, I’ll chat about this and FB

His former employer said he could come back and I kept saying after exams get in touch, but he wanted a break. Fair enough I suppose but it’s a shame as apparently the restaurant is fully staffed now.

If I didn’t have that should’ve listened to your mother vibe going on I might be feeling more sympathetic. He does really want to work though.

Both mine have worked since 17. 1 in a shop, then a pub. The other at McDonald's McDonald's is great for students, flexible on hours. Happy for them to take holidays or unpaid leave At short notice

Mine’s 17 just about to go in yr 13. She works pt in McDonalds, started a year ago and babysits.
McDonalds is flexible and has done her good she’s usually on headset dealing with customers. It pays £8.40 for 16/17. Tends to work 2 short shifts a week. They work around your timetable and hobbies.
Babysitting is £10 an hour (asleep toddler)

Ds 15 has a job doing home help but non personal care. I went with him for a mutual check out. It was on a card at the newsagent. If it wasn’t that it would have been fruit picking, farm work, agriculture etc. it can be hard to get work under 16 but I’d seriously worry about a kid over that age who couldn’t get any kind of work. Something is going wrong there, unless you live in the sticks.

DD qualified as a lifeguard at Easter so has been working a few shifts a week since GCSE's finished.
Prior to this she had a job in a pub from 14 just a couple shifts a week.
We don't have tons of money so I think there is a difference between those who do, who can get their child the Ipad or headphones or new phone and those that want to save themselves for things.
My DD isn't particularly materialistic she's had the same phone for 4 years but she recently bought some Beats headphones.
We do buy her all the standard things and she gets some pocket money, but it's just great for them to be able to have some other cash.

I could buy my dc stuff but they still work - it's good for them. Far worse to just be handed everything.
So I don't think whether they work or not always correlates to family disposable income.

I worked from 16yo doing various part time jobs alongside college, dd has done the same.

It's good for them to work, not just financially but helps develop their confidence and sense of independence.

Plus my dd would have been so bored over the summer without work to keep her occupied.

Pot washing at a pub