A kid just came to the door wanting to mow my lawn.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

His name is Anthony. His family is living in a motel a block or two from the house. He's asked to mow before but that was before our mower was stolen. I could have him mow, or I could have the landscaping guy a friend recommended mow. Hmmm...choices. I wanted to hug the poor kid and invite him to dinner. How great is it that he cares so much about his family he's trying to make money doing whatever he can? He was so excited I told him he could mow. I feel terrible for this family. If I could do more for them I would, but we are just barely making it. I don't really have $30 to give him to mow, but I don't really need to go out to eat eat on Friday.
Sadly, I think of all the other kids who are in this same position and I just weep for them.
Duckie

[On the Road]

1. There's a Middle-Aged Guy in My Neighborhood Who is Unemployed

has no car, and supports himself by mowing lawns. He does four or five a day and has a list of clients. I use him and am impressed by his industry.

But to have a child do it to support his family is even better.

[TheMadMonk]

5. No what would be BETTER is a nation where a child isn't forced...

...to support his bloody family at all.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

10. Exactly....

And after I paid him, he used my phone to call his parents. His parents were worried about how many lawns he had gotten to mow and if he'd gotten the money from us for his mowing. Just seemed like one of those situations that made me think, "Why the hell aren't his folks the ones out doing this? He deserves a childhood!" And now I am enraged. He was so eager and sweet. I just felt so horrible for him.

[Kat45]

18. I understand what you're saying abput the parents, but perhaps

they aren't healthy enough to be doing that kind of work. Or perhaps they have other kids to watch? :shrug:

[YellowRubberDuckie]

20. But I got the vibe they are giving him this responsibility.

He deserves a childhood, not to be supporting his family. It just rubbed me the wrong way.

[Bake]

26. Yes, he deserves a childhood!

But I'm impressed that he wants to help his family and do what he can to contribute, unlike the "entitled" punks who just play video games and whine about not having the latest "Gears of War" or whatever.

I hope the rest of his family is as industrious as he is.

:hi:

Bake

[YellowRubberDuckie]

28. Unfortunately, I don't think that is the case.

They live in a Motel. He has two parents. OKC does not have a bad unemployment rate.

[Bake]

29. I guess we don't/can't know for sure

But regardless, you did a good thing!

:hug:

Bake

[crim son]

49. My son is twelve

and he volunteers to mow my law, because he wants to be "the man of the house." He is popular, and A-B student, runs long distance and excels, and regularly tells me he loves me, and that he lives "a great life." My point? Mowing the lawn once or twice a week is hardly stealing a kid's childhood or freedom and in fact may help his self-esteem in ways that sitting home and watching t.v. might not.

Oh, and I'm unemployed and can't afford to pay him, so I don't.

I think helping the neighborhood kid by letting him help his family was a wonderful thing to do!

[Skidmore]

27. I have mixed feelings about this.

We were very poor when I was growing up. My brothers mowed lawns, worked for farmers, and raked leaves for money. I babysat and did my share of walking beans and detasseling corn. Our money went to pay for clothing and shoes. We also gave money to mom to help with household expenses. We learned the value of work and responsibility. My own children worked as teenagers. I only asked for money from them after they graduated high school and were still living at home. The money they gave me went into accounts for them and was returned to them to use to help them on their way when they were ready to move out.

We all deserve a childhood, but I do think Americans hold onto childhood, and in a negative way, ever so much longer than do much of the world.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

32. But when your gut is telling you that a kid is being exploited...

...it is terribly difficult to think about it that way. This just felt...off.

[backwoodsbob]

58. my ex and I did that with her son

We actually started making him pay some every week from the time he started working in 10th grade...just whatever he could afford.unknown to him we were matching it and putting it in a savings account for him.at 20 he had enough for a healthy downpayment on a starter home when he got married :)

[Lucinda]

2. If we all do what we can, when we can to help

it does make a difference. You have a great heart Duckie.
♥

[YellowRubberDuckie]

3. I just hope he doesn't turn around and try to steal something.

That was the first thing Skip, my husband, said. Sadly, we have to be careful.

[leftstreet]

11. If a lawn care company gave you a bid for mowing, would you expect them to come back and steal?

:wow:

[YellowRubberDuckie]

12. No.

I didn't say I agreed. But since we had our garage broken into, Skip has been a little paranoid.

[Scuba]

23. I like you better than Skip. n/t

[YellowRubberDuckie]

24. To be fair, we've had terrible luck here.

We had our garage broken into and our lawn equipment was stolen. Our house has been tampered with and attempted to be broken into (we have nothing of value). Unfortunately, you have be careful. And if you think expect the worst and hope for the best, you are rarely disappointed.

[snooper2]

39. that's why we say OK is just, OK

LOL :P

[Warpy]

4. There's a mentally challenged guy here who shows up within a week

after my leaves have fallen and rakes them up. I'm glad for the help and I know he's glad for the money.

[tularetom]

6. You are a good soul

Last fall a Hispanic guy walked up our driveway and asked me if I had any work he could do. Just being here is an achievement in itself because there is only one other house within 2 miles of us. So I sort of felt like I should find something for him to do. The only thing I could think of was to get leaves off the roof. So I went to get a ladder when I thought to myself, what if this guy falls off the roof? I'd sure hate to explain that to my insurance company. So I had him muck out the horse barn which I had shoveled out just 6 hours earlier, paid him 20 bucks and he left.

[whathehell]

7. You did a good thing, IMO.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

8. Just make sure it's not your mower that he's mowing lawns with - lol (n/t)

[jwirr]

9. Your story reminded me of the book "Nickled and Dimed". nt

[Nye Bevan]

13. He deserves a lot of credit for getting off his ass and earning some money

as opposed to sitting around and whining.

Good kid.

[itsallhappening]

15. He does, but many people would denounce him for being a capitalist.

[Remember Me]

16. Oh. please

First of all, that's not capitalism. Capitalism is using capital you invest to hire OTHER people doing the work; they get paid merely for their time and you get the profits. Second, there's a lot wrong with unregulated capitalism. If you're not on board with that, I suggest you do a little research. Finally, don't act like a rightwinger on a progressive/liberal/Democratic board.

[uppityperson]

51. I do not think that word means what you think it means.

And please read Remember Me's reply to you as it gives some good advice.

[Gormy Cuss]

17. Yeah, because so many low income and poor kids sit on their asses whining.

:eyes:

[Nye Bevan]

19. Sorry, you're right. I shouldn't praise anyone because the people who I *don't* praise may feel bad.

Paying that kid a compliment was terribly insensitive of me.

[Lyric]

33. You didn't just pay the kid a compliment. You insulted all the poor kids

who AREN'T out there trying to work by implying that they're "sitting on their asses and whining".

I guess you're 100% behind the right-wing effort to repeal child labor laws, aren't you? Maybe then ALL the poor children will stop whining and get their asses to work!

:eyes:

[Nye Bevan]

36. Right, because I complimented this one kid,

by implication I was horribly insulting everyone else.

Again, I am deeply sorry.

[Gormy Cuss]

38. That was a backhanded compliment

and it was terribly insensitive of you.

[Nye Bevan]

44. Again, I'm very sorry. I didn't mean to imply that anyone in the United States is lazy.

I will never again praise anyone for showing initiative. That's a back-handed compliment, because it implies that there is someone, somewhere, who is *not* showing initiative. And that is deeply hurtful.

I have learned some valuable lessons from this thread. Thank you so much for your feedback.

[Gormy Cuss]

46. How nice of you to apology like that.

After all, you could just sit on your ass whining about the feedback in a sarcastic manner.

[Nye Bevan]

48. Thanks again!

:yourock:

DU is a truly unique place.

[uppityperson]

52. +100

[GoCubsGo]

54. I get where you are coming from, and I didn't see it as back-handed.

I have lived in my house for 11 years. It's in a mixed blue collar/middle class neighborhood. I had a couple of kids coming to my door asking to cut the lawn or rake the leaves ONCE during that period. Had I not been unemployed, I would gladly have hired them. Meanwhile, I had two teenage boys next door. I NEVER saw either of them do any sort of yard work. Their dad did it all. I worked with a kid last summer who had never once mowed his lawn. His parents hired someone else to do it. I live in one of the "red" states, where they're always wanting to go back to the "Leave it to Beaver" days, where one's kids earned their spending money that way. Yet, they don't encourage their own kids to do that. When I saw the OP, I was completely shocked to hear there actually still kids out there who do yard work. I don't see this as a "class" thing, it's more a generational thing, apparently.

[moondust]

14. I had a couple guys selling vacuum cleaners the other day.

Their demonstration included vacuuming and shampooing a patch of carpet. I knew they would get paid something from the company just for demonstrating the thing. I had some time to spare so I let them go ahead and do what they had to do to get paid. The price started at over $1000 and came down to $800 but I have no use for another vacuum cleaner, certainly not one that nice. I enjoyed talking to them and seeing the thing work.

Thanks for doing what you can. :)

[YellowRubberDuckie]

21. LOL

My dad bought the one they brought to our house, and since my mom is the one who did the vacuuming, she wasn't too thrilled with the more complicated vacuum. It took three hours to explain the one she had to buy after that one was ruined in the flood, and it was the simplest base model Dirt Devil made that we got at Walmart for $40.

[NM Independent]

55. They only make money if you buy. It's a commission only job. You wasted their time.

Next time someone comes to your door, if you don't want to buy what their selling, send them along. You do them NO favors by "entertaining" them.

I got suckered into trying to sell Kirby's for about a week, until I realized just what a ripoff the whole thing was for the sales people.

[moondust]

59. That's not what they said.

They "hinted" that they got $25 for going through the demonstration even if they didn't sell it. I suppose that could have just been a "door opener." I had several reasons to believe it was true. Naturally the commission would be greater if they were to make a sale.

[tammywammy]

60. A Kirby?

Those things are expensive, but is a freaking tank of a vacuum. My parents got a Kirby when I was maybe 10, I'm 31 and it's still going strong.

[w8liftinglady]

22. you are SO sweet

some kids in my apartment complex posted little signs by the mailboxes."Will clean your bathroom,take out your trash,walk your dog"..with a little price next to them.I know the kids- nice teenage girls- two of four kids and parents living in a two-bedroom apt.I have my own live-in labor...but I hope they get some jobs.They are trying to support the family.

[JNelson6563]

25. Thank you for your kindness to this boy.

:hug:

[Dogtown]

30. He probably stole your mower...

Got to create those business opportunities.
Maybe got some pocket-change for the mower as well, a true entreprenuer...




Just joking, but it's a cute story.
You did good. Hope it helps the kid out.

[DaveJ]

31. Living in a motel room sounds very expensive

If it's a normal priced motel room they could afford a decent apartment for what that would cost. Of course they might not be able to get one. Catch 22. Also in this modern era almost anyone should be able to do work online making the mobile life unnecessary.

One of the ultimate economic injustices of our time is that the poor pay more for everything. One of the ways we are kept poor. The rich work it out so that they actually make money off of everything they receive.

[Lyric]

34. Apartments tend to require passing a credit check and 1st month's rent and deposit in advance

If you have bad credit (fairly typical for poor people) and you can't scrape up $1000+ for rent and deposit (also fairly typical for poor people) then the motel is your only option other than the street--even if it IS more expensive in the long-term.

Home ownership is certainly cheaper than renting, most of the time. Our friend Mike pays $580 on his mortgage for a house in our neighborhood that's nicer than the one we're renting (and sharing) for $900 a month. But he qualified for a mortgage. He had good credit. We don't, so the more-expensive option of renting is the only choice we have.

[DaveJ]

35. I hope you find a home

In these times it's ridiculous to deny homes from people, all the homes just sitting there empty. I got myself into some bad situations that messed up my credit too but luckily my wife had semi-decent credit and was able to qualify. We have cheap homes all over our neighborhood that nobody is buying because the credit environment is so messed up. A home is a basic need. It should not be denied. Laws need to be changed to prevent creditors from messing with home credit. Good luck.

[nc4bo]

40. There's also the cost of electric, gas and water deposits which can be very expensive

and usually not included in the cost of rent.

Hotel/motel rooms include all of that and there's usually cable or satellite service too.

[Lyric]

42. Yep. And furniture and toiletries. Motels provide shampoo, soap, towels, etc.

And since they tend to be flat to the ground, motels are often a last-resort choice for poor people with physical disabilities who can't find a cheap apartment that isn't up four flights of stairs.

[uppityperson]

53. "weekly rentals" in cheap motels are not "very expensive". I've had to do this

sometimes when traveling for various things. Typically it isn't a "normal priced motel room" but cheap ones, the kind that you really don't want to stay in but it has bed, bath, kitchenette, linens, water, electricity for less than an apartment.

One place had slanted walls and doors and I never figured out what was happening in the next room, sounded like steam ironing the wallpaper (lived there for a week when moved to AK in the winter). Another was ok but generic and got better (cleaner) linens by visiting with and helping housekeeping staff. Another was above a bar, was a dive but had a locking door at night.

All 3 of these had people living there full time as well as us weekly transients. The residents were a varied lot, some I think probably could not get an apartment as they were rather sketchy, others simply wanted to have a locking door, basic ammenities including anonymity

[EdMaven]

57. I'd bet they're there on housing vouchers of some kind. Pretty common.

Our local housing authority puts people up in motels.

[deaniac21]

37. I put myself through college mowing yards.

[nc4bo]

41. You did a very good deed!

You don't see many kids wanting to hustle these days and I'm glad you were there to help him and his family.

I see 2 people who benefited here, you and him!

[closeupready]

43. He likely appreciates that $30 more than you can know.

Bless you. K&R

[Nye Bevan]

45. He appreciates the $30, and the OP appreciates having his lawn mowed.

Seems like a win-win all around.

[closeupready]

47. Absolutely. Everyone wins. I like that.

:hi:

[bigwillq]

50. Great story.

Thanks for helping out.
K and R
:hug:

[Mnemosyne]

56. ...