I was talking to my brother today and we compared notes about working teens out in the sticks.
My niece Tricia and son Billy were born 2 weeks apart. Tricia will be 17 next week and has been driving for like a year. Billy won?t be able to get his driver?s permit until he?s 17 and I hear that he won?t get a license until he is 18. I understand about young drivers and the need for caution but, really, this stinks for parents out in the sticks.
Before Tricia got her license, my brother drove her wherever she needed to go ? job, her mother?s, school, a friend ? It?s the same case with us and Billy.
Billy?s gotten a nice job for himself at the Burlington Regal Cinema. He just completed 5 days of training and gets underway next weekend. He?s working Friday, Saturday and Sunday during the school year. He can work more on holidays and during school vacations. It?s a nice job because he can tend to his studies without being pressured by the boss to work more hours.
This job is good for Billy not only for the money he?ll earn. It?s also good for his self esteem to work at something that is fun, know he?s doing a good job, and that this is another step on the road to independence. There?s lots of fun ?perks? too, free popcorn and movie tickets.
And the drawback is ?
It?s 40 minutes one way from our house to the theatre. If Billy had his own license and could drive a car, it wouldn?t be too big a deal for him. I think most people drive at least 30 minutes to work. BUT since it?s TB or me, we?re talking about almost 90 minutes of driving twice a day. It?s especially rough when the shift ends at closing and Billy doesn?t finish until midnight or one in the morning.
It?s rough but this is something we need to do until Billy can get there by driving himself
It?s rough being a teething baby! Little T has a tooth coming in and has been drooling. He?s also got some serious gas going on and he?s been fussy for the last day or two. I know how it feels to have a toothache and to have gas. It?s pretty painful and here I am an adult. What must it be like for an infant who can?t really talk or understand the pain he?s in. Hopefully that tooth will come in soon and the pain will go away.
Unconscious Mutterings:
I write ? and you say ?