Note to parents with teens looking for Summer work...

[byronius]

25. My kids were raised to respect work.

Both worked summer jobs training swimmers. We had long conversations about the nature of work — I ran a small business for thirty years and then went to work for the state — and I talked about how to find joy in good solid labor.

My son went through law school on earned scholarships and my daughter became a math teacher. Both of them make more money than I ever did, and both of them are careful with it, saving to buy houses.

Parenting is constant, steady guidance, and passing on lessons that you’ve learned. I’ve had same talks with nephews and nieces, even kids on the block. But the teaching of joy, and respect — that’s the core.