The health benefits of social interactions
You know what they say about Karma? Well she has blessed me with a surly teenager who barely talks to his parents. I was unbearable at this age. I used to hole up in my room, and skulk to Led Zeppelin cassette tapes, and four hours of Kung Fu theatre on one of the UHF channels on Sunday afternoons. Which dial had like a hundred channels? That one. I’d eat a breakfast bowl and watch Late Night with David Letterman, and finally go to bed around 2am.
The last 3 years have been rough on everyone, especially the first one, where the kids were home schooled. They really didn’t like their teachers (us). We asked them if they wanted to go back to school after the first year, and it was a resounding “Yes!” Amazing really, when you think about it. Who would have ever thought that kids would want to go to school.
This year the oldest turned 14, and was able to get a job in the State of New Mexico. We have several restaurants within walking distance of our house, and he applied to bus tables for one down the street.
He is not an outwardly social person, but we knew he had to go in, introduce himself, and do this interview by himself. He was hired on the spot. Either he didn’t do that bad, or it’s a reflection of the job market.
He was extremely nervous about working with all these adults, who were strangers at first. I’ll admit, I was a little wary, having just read Kitchen Confidential by Bourdain, which was an immensly entertaining story. But maybe not a place that a young teenager should see.
After a few months, he has really blossomed at this job. He talks to his parents after work, more than at any other time. Even more than after sports. He gets to hear adult female waitresses gossip. I wonder what those conversations are rated? “RW”, as in Real World?
This education may make more of an impact than his school education. He gets to see behind the scenes, just how hard it is to run a business.
He’s very lucky to have this as his first job. And he makes cash tips. He thinks he’s Mr Burns on the Simpsons. His stingy parents made him deposit half his cash in the bank. Losers.
With his cash he has bought some shoes, and sunglasses, and that hammock to lay in. Employment has given him so much.
That’s not going to be the only thing he does this summer. No laying around. Football practice starts the first week of June, and him and his brother will be roused at 6am everyday, and go do that for 2 hours. Then some chores.
Yes, that’s a lot of firewood. Yes, that’s a hand saw. Yes, I own a chainsaw. Yes, it will “build character.”
No, they don’t look thrilled about it, and No, I don’t care :)
Happy summer!