summer job frustration

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-28-1999
summer job frustration
6
Wed, 05-23-2007 - 12:17pm

My DD worked regularly since she was 16 during the summer & the school year. This year (senior) she wanted to quit her job a couple of months ago during track season and the store was closing also, so I said ok. This is the last week of school, then exams, which she doesn't have to take, grad is on June 9 and she also signed up for college orientation from June 13-15. I assume she will be getting another summer job and she has said she expects to work, but everytime that I say that I have seen a sign that somewhere is hiring, she says "I don't want to work there." I have mentioned a drugstore, Kohl's (dept. store) and Panera Bread. All unacceptable. The one thing she didn't put down was that her friend's mother works in a hospital and said she would help her get a job there and since DD wants to be a nurse, she said she might look into that.

Her reaction yesterday was like "don't bother me". Well, I could just sit back and say nothing and then when the money runs out, it's her problem. I haven't seen her curb her spending any since she has stopped working. She still has to pay for gas and insurance. I know she has money in the bank, but I don't really want her draining the whole acct. It's not that she's totally lazy. She did babysit a couple of times and I guess they pay really well ($70 for one night!, but they have a baby and a 3 yr old who is almost blind, so I guess they want someone responsible). She also talked about leaving her car home and taking it off the road so she wouldn't have to pay for insurance.

I guess I'm worried that she will wait til the last minute and there will be no jobs available. I don't know if she will be able to work while she's in college. She's going to a state univ. w/ about 20,000 students. She didn't get work-study, so how many jobs are there going to be in that area? It's not like I'm expecting her to have some horrible job--I don't see why it would be so bad to be a cashier at Kohl's since she has worked in retail for the last 2 years.

Of course, DSD, who is a junior, didn't work at all last summer, so I'll see what she has lined up too. This year, she is driving and needs money for insurance.

Avatar for heartsandroses2002
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 05-23-2007 - 1:55pm

I like the natural consequences approach: When she runs out of money let her feel the pinch.

My dds were also picky about where they worked also. Oy!

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 05-23-2007 - 2:28pm

I think many of us baby boomers have done this generation a disservice by teaching them they are to find a job they enjoy

Seriously!

That said, I think they go for their first choices and when they dont pan out, they move to their second choices, etc

I would let it play out-just be sure you and DH are on the same page about handing out spending money or covering her bills so the natural consequences kick in

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-28-1999
Wed, 05-23-2007 - 2:49pm
Oh believe me, DH isn't her father, so he won't give her any money, besides which he never carries money. I think it's so the kids won't ever ask him for any. lol The funny thing is (well, not so funny to me) that he keeps asking if she has a job yet, while all last summer every time I suggested that his DD should get a job, he would agree, but then never do anything about it. I drove her all around one day to get applications and she was even worse. Every job that was nearby she didn't like. She took one app. from a drugstore, then never handed it in. She is working after school this year taking care of the kids at the after-school program in the elem school. She wanted to be a camp counsellor at the day camp run by the town, which happens to take place at that school which is very near our house. I'm sure it's very competitive to get that job, which pays well. Apps had to be in by April 1, which I told her. I'm sure she didn't apply on time.
Avatar for weberdns0
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-25-2000
Thu, 05-24-2007 - 10:39am
Since your DD is a senior you need to set up a budget for college if she is going to let her know now what you expect her to pay for, and what you will be providing.
Avatar for weberdns0
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-25-2000
Thu, 05-24-2007 - 10:43am
I agree with you!
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-24-2005
Thu, 05-24-2007 - 11:02am
LOL, one of my managers tells his crew that if it was fun we wouldn't have to pay you!
yes, it seems they are all looking for something "fun", my DD won't work in anything "food" so this includes convience stores, coffee shops, basically anything other than retails. I told her that if she doesn't have a job shortly that she will be out of funding for sure. Since she's in a college prep HS that demands a lot of HW, I've provided her cash as long as her school and home responsibilities are met. Summer's a new ball game though.