I am proud to say that my two daughters are hardworking, responsible young ladies and as I sort through summer pictures, I can see why.

SUMMER FAMILY PROJECTS

I am blessed with a handy husband who loves doing household projects. He learned from his father that help was expected in the summer. My two daughters have risen to the challenge magnificently as “Dad’s handy helpers.” My eldest loved painting so my husband put her to work helping on the deck in a part of the project that she could handle.

Delegating tasks in a project around the home builds valuable skills and teaches kids to be a part of the process instead of just enjoying the benefits.

TEACH THEM AND LET THEM FLY

My younger daughter really took to our riding mower, something that freaked me out on the hills in the field behind our house. We would pay her to keep the weeds down to eliminate ticks and keep it from getting totally overgrown. She had fun riding the mower and then she had spending money to have even more fun when she went to the beach with friends.

LET THEM DREAM

Back to my oldest, she dreamed of going to Paris from a very young age. When my husband heard the local gun range needed teens to mark down scores during the Friday night competitions, he signed up my daughter. For the next three years, she went every week, hot or cold, during the summer and winter, and saved enough to have a decent amount to enjoy on her trip to France with her aunt.

It has been said that if you enjoy what you do, you never work a day in your life. Teaching kids to enjoy working in fun summer jobs can help them learn to enjoy both their work and its rewards in life as well.