Failure to Lead by Example

I mentor a 16-year-old kid. It's all the things you'd expect it to be: fun, annoying, depressing, frustrating, hilarious, rewarding, etc. He just finished school for the year, and is hoping to find a job. I've actually been hinting to him the last couple of summers to get work, but he never took the bait. So I'm just glad to see him wanting to find something to do.

Of course, most of the jobs are gone by now (which I also have been trying to tell him) so he's not been able to find much in the way of leads. I've driven him around, he's filled out applications, and such, but he hasn't really been in high pursuit.

This, naturally, creates a dilemma for me. It's hard to justify telling him he needs to be less choosy about looking for work and more aggressive in seeking it out when I'm sitting on my butt surfing the web. Sure, I've got money to fall back on, and some piecemeal work lined up, but even if he hears that, I doubt he sees it.

I find it another amusing example of hindsight. I was even younger than him - probably only 13 or so, when my mom insisted I would not spend my summer goofing off. I worked in a grocery store one year, then mowed yards on my own before working for the school district during high school. And I never, ever wanted to go to work (some things, it would appear, never change). But man, was I excited to learn how much money I had socked away at the end of the summer (yes, Mom restricted my spending as well - she was pretty on the ball).

Of course, I can't make him save his money, and from the sound of it, he won't save much. I also know this in part because he hasn't touched a savings account I started for him a few years ago. I might find some way to force him to do it. Maybe I can remind myself to be more thrifty at the same time.

And I'm also about to get a lot more proactive on my own financial front, so I'll have a leg to stand on when I tell him to get off his butt. Never figured my work with a teenager might be critical to my own well-being.

We Now Return to Our Previously Scheduled Itinerary

The job I interviewed for was given to someone else. Excellent! I'm off to spend a couple of weeks around the old homestead. Family, old friends and good old fashioned KC barbecue. Can't imagine a much better escape from the Beltway rat race. I'll get back to the original plan when I get back!