I don't know how it happened, but all my kids are gainfully employed. Let's see, we must have done something right...

     At a time when many of my friends are lamenting the fact that their kids won't or can't find work, mine are all working.  My younger two are at summer jobs that are much like slave labor.  The older daugher has graduated college and is employed as a teacher--not known to be the easiest profession, but she loves it.
     Every day when my 20 year old comes home from the pool where she "manages" for 6.50 an hour, she says, "I had the worst day!"  She is a college student attempting to help us stash cash for school this fall. After her tirade about the difficulties, she is contented and happy the rest of the night.  She has only 2 more weeks to go of the summer.  She works 13 hour days, and has never once mentioned quitting.  She understands bills!

     Our son (17) and the teacher/daughter (24) work at a Christian camp where there is no weekend off.  They get 6 hours off here and there.  The work day is long and often outdoors.  They cook, do clean up, lifeguard, anything that is asked of them, plus participate in a dynamite discipleship group.  Sometimes, there is a lot of pressure to work hard and keep smiling.  But they love it and seldom complain except to call and say, "I'm sooo tired!"
     I don't know that we did anything in particular when the kids were young that induces them to work so hard.  We have counseled them about managing their money.  Our family finances have been such that, if they each have wanted a car, or fancy clothes, or eatin' out money, they have had to foot the bill. 

     We have always taught that in any circumstance, you and God can make it, however difficult.  We have not had a history of quitting jobs ourselves.  One of our family sayings is, "We can do anything for six months."  We also teach them to tithe, knowing that everything comes from the Lord.

    Krystal in particular has felt God's blessings on her finances this summer.  She is known as a hard worker.  Her grandmother employs her on days off to clean house, because she does better than any maid in Houston.  Also, she's been offered a painting job which will buy her college football tickets this fall.      Our famiy tends to see money as a means of blessing others.  We take mission trips, give to missionaries and our church.  We don't buy big-ticket items, but we do pay our bills and take family trips.  Whatever we have done, accidentally and by God's providence, our kids are turning out better than we expected.      I believe that responsibility in the younger years makes good employees.  And I suspect that holding down a crummy little job and doing it well prepares for that adult career later on.  Working isn't the top priority in life, but it does prepare our kids for fiscal responsibility in a normal, productive adulthood.