I was 15 years old. I wanted a real job. The kind of job that required you to clock in and clock out. I don't remember why. Maybe all of my friends had jobs and I thought I needed one too. I honestly can't say. My Father said, "You can't get a job...you're too young, you need to be 16." I was going to prove him wrong. That is what teenagers try to do, prove their parents wrong. They don't know what they are talking about...
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Being the youngest of 6 children, I had the opportunity to witness over the years my siblings out in the "workforce". Looking back, I can not say whether or not I remember all of the places they worked, but I do remember a couple of them did spend some time at McDonald's. Could there be any better place to work than a "Fast Food" restaurant? I didn't think so...at the time.
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I tried McDonald's, I tried Burger King, I tried any place that I figured would give me a discount on my meal when I took a 30 minute break during my shift. What a deal! Discounted fries while kicking up your feet in a break room. Real work with real compensation. But no one would hire me...
.
After much searching, I finally landed a job at Wendy's. I couldn't wait to tell my Father...and rub that, "Ha! I told you so!", into the faces of both of my parents. But that would have to wait, as they needed me to start that same day. What I thought was going to be the most exciting day that would immediately launch me into the rights and privileges of adulthood turned out quite the opposite. I had never been so miserable. Washing dishes, emptying trash, sanitizing urinals, and scrubbing toilets of those patrons whose meals did not sit so well with them. Still, I was proud of myself. I had a job.
.
The following day, I told my parents how great the job was. I was not to say anything different as it would have ruined the moment. Out of the blue, my father proceeded to talk to me about money. How I would need to save it. I interjected and said, "Its my money and I will do what I want with it." I think my dad tried mumbling something about matching whatever I would save. When I say he mumbled, what I really mean was, I still did not care to listen. He kept repeating over and over, "Son, you need to save your money!"
.
They following day, I returned to my place of employment. The manager had quickly pulled me aside and told me I no longer had a job. "What?, I don't understand...I worked really hard last night!", I exclaimed. To his reply, "I am sorry, I can not let you work. You are not 16 years old yet, it's against the law." With my head hung low, I left. I knew when I got home, I was going to get the "I told you so." from my parents. For some reason, I did not. I had really good parents. They knew they were right. They knew that I knew it and that was enough for them.
.
To this day, I wish I wasn't so full of myself not to listen to my Dad when he tried to educate me about saving money. I think that was the first and the last time he tried. I guess he thought if I didn't listen the initial go around, why try again. I wish he would have sat on my chest and beat me over the head with a brick until I understood about saving. I have a brick with each of my children's names on it. I will teach them.
.
Being the youngest of 6 children, I had the opportunity to witness over the years my siblings out in the "workforce". Looking back, I can not say whether or not I remember all of the places they worked, but I do remember a couple of them did spend some time at McDonald's. Could there be any better place to work than a "Fast Food" restaurant? I didn't think so...at the time.
.
I tried McDonald's, I tried Burger King, I tried any place that I figured would give me a discount on my meal when I took a 30 minute break during my shift. What a deal! Discounted fries while kicking up your feet in a break room. Real work with real compensation. But no one would hire me...
.
After much searching, I finally landed a job at Wendy's. I couldn't wait to tell my Father...and rub that, "Ha! I told you so!", into the faces of both of my parents. But that would have to wait, as they needed me to start that same day. What I thought was going to be the most exciting day that would immediately launch me into the rights and privileges of adulthood turned out quite the opposite. I had never been so miserable. Washing dishes, emptying trash, sanitizing urinals, and scrubbing toilets of those patrons whose meals did not sit so well with them. Still, I was proud of myself. I had a job.
.
The following day, I told my parents how great the job was. I was not to say anything different as it would have ruined the moment. Out of the blue, my father proceeded to talk to me about money. How I would need to save it. I interjected and said, "Its my money and I will do what I want with it." I think my dad tried mumbling something about matching whatever I would save. When I say he mumbled, what I really mean was, I still did not care to listen. He kept repeating over and over, "Son, you need to save your money!"
.
They following day, I returned to my place of employment. The manager had quickly pulled me aside and told me I no longer had a job. "What?, I don't understand...I worked really hard last night!", I exclaimed. To his reply, "I am sorry, I can not let you work. You are not 16 years old yet, it's against the law." With my head hung low, I left. I knew when I got home, I was going to get the "I told you so." from my parents. For some reason, I did not. I had really good parents. They knew they were right. They knew that I knew it and that was enough for them.
.
To this day, I wish I wasn't so full of myself not to listen to my Dad when he tried to educate me about saving money. I think that was the first and the last time he tried. I guess he thought if I didn't listen the initial go around, why try again. I wish he would have sat on my chest and beat me over the head with a brick until I understood about saving. I have a brick with each of my children's names on it. I will teach them.
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