Should parents force teenage kids to get a job over the summer holidays? Fierce debate grips Mumsnet
Parents are clearly divided when it comes to forcing their teenagers to find a summer job
WITH the long summer holidays looming, many parents will be despairing at the thought of their teenage children spending the entire break bumming around at home.
However, parents are clearly divided when it comes to forcing their teenagers to find a summer job, after a fierce debate gripped Mumsnet users last week.
The teenager in question apparently spends all her time with her boyfriend, and refuses to work or volunteer to pass the time over the long summer months.
The despairing parent said the girl had even refused to join her on a family holiday, meaning travel plans were put on hold by the mum, who didn't want to leave the girl alone in her house for ten days.
The girl's mum wrote: "I let her have the first 2 weeks of holiday off to hang out with her bf and go to prom, but would now like her to get a job.
"I understand she's worked hard (ish) for GCSEs and deserves a break but am I being unreasonable to expect her to do something other than see her boyfriend every day?
"Even her bf has a job lined up and is doing work experience now - she just plays computer games/is on social media/paints her nails till he's finished and then goes out with him!"
"Should add I live in area with lots of jobs - a bus ride from 3 towns with jobs plus commutable to London."
Many parents were able to empathise with the girls' mum, who was worried she was being harsh by expecting her daughter to work for a few weeks over the holiday.
However, plenty were critical of her suggestion that the 16-year-old should commute to London for work.
One said: "I think commuting to London for a holiday job for a 16 year old is a bit much but you are not being unreasonable to ask her to get a job."
Other parents suggested that the despairing mum should stop giving her daughter money until she started to work, but many pointed out that there aren't many jobs available to teenagers that young.
One asked: "Where do you expect her to get a 2 week job from?" whilst another chipped in to say: "I think you are being a bit unreasonable , jobs for 16 year olds are hard to find and she will need to commit for longer than a fortnight."
A possible solution emerged when other parents suggested the lazy teen is forced to do some chores around the house in return for pocket money, although other parents thought the holiday situation was more concerning.
A surprised commenter asked: "You trust her to hold down employment and travel into London alone daily but don't trust her in your house for 10 days?"
The debate was left largely unresolved, although the mum went on to reveal that her daughter had already turned down a two week work placement this summer.
However, there did appear to be a possible compromise for the peeved parent.
One user said: "Why don't you help her with practical advice this summer, show her how to write a decent CV, talk through entry job levels, by next summer she may be excited to work."