50 Jobs in 50 Weeks

Grandpa Wilcox teaches 3 of his grandkids something about gardening

A few weeks ago Good Morning Utah interviewed author Daniel Seddiqui who had traveled all 50 states and worked 50 different jobs in 50 weeks. His mission was to explore the diverse careers, environments, and cultures offered in America.

   Moms, Dads, and grandparents could use Seddiqui’s experience as a model for families.  As CEOs of a family organization, parents can also map out a plan which gives kids experience with 50 jobs at home this year!   Any smart CEO knows better than to try and do all the work him or herself.  Instruction, delegation and follow through is the name of the game.  

   

Teaching children to work and to appreciate those who do, is a critical life skill many people lack in society today.  Maybe you can even invite a neighborhood child over to gain some new skills. Some possible jobs to consider teaching:  (How many of these have you already taught your children, and grandchildren?)

1.     Baker (Bread, cookies, cakes, etc)

2.     Dish washer (both by hand and loading the machine)

3.     Short order cook (Easy breakfast and lunches for the family)

Laurie helping Grandma in Idaho

4.     Kitchen clean up (Wash counters, table, sinks)

5.     Waitress (Set and bring food to the table; ask if anyone needs anything)

6.     Chef (Plan and prepare meals for the family.)

7.     Sous Chef  (Second in command in the kitchen, the helper, vegetable prep, chopping,)

Ethan was my sous chef veggie juicer one summer, 

and also created the hat he's wearing!

8.     Bus boy (clearing table and putting things away)

9.     Maid (cleaning bedrooms, changing sheets)

10. Sweeper/mopper:  (Sweep and mop kitchen)

11. Baby sitter (prepare a tote with books and crafts to use when tending children)

12. Photographer (learn to use all camera settings, and be responsible for photographing family activities)

13. Scrapbooker (Organize prints, or scrapbook on-line using Heritage Makers, Picaboo, Mixabook, or Snap Fish.

14. Gardner (plant, water, weed, and harvest)

15. Canner (Learn how to prepare and can fruit and vegetables)

16. Landscaper (Help design and plant an attractive yard)

17. Greenhouse manager (Plant and care for seedlings you want started inside.  Learn the dos and don’ts)

18. Transplanter (Dig up and separate perennials in the early spring, share with neighbors, or plant in bare spots.)  [I have lots of these, if anyone would like some, please call me.]

19. Pruner (Learn how to prune fruit trees and clean up limbs)

20. Painter (Turn woodwork from shabby to chic with instruction, followed by practice)

21. Car cleaner (Regularly wash car and vacuum vehicles.)

22. Garbage man (Empty all garbages weekly)

23. Composter, (Carry all biodegradable scraps and clippings to a bin, learn steps of decomposing)

24. Sanitation expert (Clean toilets, tubs and showers)

25. Lawn mower (Cut and rake grass regularly)

26. Weed whacker (Make sure you know the difference between weeds and seedlings, then keep the weeds out)

27. Duster (Using a soft cloth, or toilet paper, dust all flat surfaces weekly)

28. Mop-head (Mop all floors once a week)

29. Rug Bug (Vacuum all carpets once a week)

30. Mover and a shaker (Roll up all small rugs and take them outside for a good shaking)

31. Laundry-man/woman (Keep your own clothes washed and neatly put away each week)

32. Typist (Type up family histories, memories, journals for others)

33. Secretary (Help organize mom or dad, make phone calls, and keep family calendar current)

34. Personal shopper (for mom)  (Keep track of weddings, birthdays, and purchasing and wrapping gifts)

Kylee finishes her first jelly roll quilt, May 2012.

35.  Seamstress (Learn to use a sewing machine, repair simple tears, sew on buttons, or make a quilt.

36. Service specialist (Look for opportunities to help others, clean up projects, food, painting)

37. Window Washer (Learn 2 good strategies for cleaning window, then go to work) I use either newspapers and vinegar, or squeegees and microfiber cloths with windshield wiper fluid.

38. Sports Trainer (Plan physical fitness events for the family, track progress and accomplishments.)

39.  Special needs specialist (Notice those who have special problems and do something to help them.)

40.  Cowboy (Help round up cattle in the fall and spring) 

41.  Hay hauler (Let the local farmers do the training on this)

Children can learn to care for animals of all kinds

42. Camp Cook (Learn how to cook on a campfire, or using Dutch Ovens)

43.  Fashionista (Help Dad or grandpa purge their closet and update wardrobe.)

44. Reading specialist (Make a chart and track what everyone is reading, plan rewards, prizes, and celebrations to recognize good efforts)

45.  Genealogist (Learn about family ancestors on Ancestry.com, Familysearch.org or use myfamilyvillage application on Facebook)  Silvia Stubbs has some inspiring stories on how her oldest grandson has helped her. 

46.  Recreation director (Plan family activities, parties, hikes, etc)

47.  Declutterer Diva:  (Keep garage, storage areas and closets tidy; recycle usable items.

48. Flower Arranger: (Care for and create fresh flower arrangements)

Peyton has always had an art project going on.

49.  Art Curator: (Encourage artistic creations, hang them for the family to enjoy, file and save extra good ones)

50.  Delivery Boy: (Boy do I miss my teenagers when it comes time to make deliveries!  Enjoy their help while you can.)

By the sweat of thy brow…

This summer, Steve’s sister gave us a shadow box containing mementos from a wreath we had made for Grandpa Wilcox’s funeral.  In it was the quote:  “He hoed to the end of the row.”   It exemplified the life of a man who knew and lived by the precept of “work.”  He didn’t quit a job until it was finished.  He also taught his children to work, training them in sugar beet fields, the family garden, and in the barn milking cows.

   My own parents were also farmers, with similar expectations that children would be involved in the work that needed to be done on the farm. My older brother had more of the important responsibilities like driving the Caterpillar tractor, grain truck, and milking.   I took care of the yard, helped mom inside, painted the house, and learned to sew for younger siblings. 

   I never knew that our parents were practicing a very important principle…one I didn’t learn about until 20 years later at a parenting workshop taught by H. Stephen Glenn.  It is based on the premise that children need to be valued and given tasks where they learn to be “significant contributors” to a family’s well-being, not just passive recipients.   

 Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.  ~Thomas Edison

Children need to play important roles in family dynamics.  When this happens in a family it becomes “on-the-job” training for life.  One of Glenn’s books, “Raising Self-Reliant Children in a Self-Indulgent World” teaches seven building blocks for developing capable young people.  If parents defer the responsibility of teaching children to work, then kids learn roles from the media, where substance abuse, self-medication, casual sex, violence, and materialism is taught.  Sadly this is the case with many youth today.

  Children deserve parents who treat them as capable beings, and take time to tutor and teach them relevant tasks.  If a mother’s goal is having a “perfect” home, she will probably do all the work herself, and thus never raise a responsible child. The more important goal is to coach children on how to do meaningful tasks.

 Children who learn step by step how to cook, clean, garden, and be dependable, will eventually take pride in their work and will find joy.  In addition, their accomplishments need to be celebrated and appreciated.  For many years we used Margaret Van Dyke’s idea of a Family Brag board.  She hung these boards in several rooms and put short little notes of appreciation identifying each child’s current accomplishment.  These notes later were added to scrapbooks as milestone reminders of their successes.

All the so-called "secrets of success" 
will not work unless you do.  

    Another good book on parenting is Linda and Richard Eyre’s “Teaching Children Responsibility.   We tried many of their strategies over the 30 years we were raising children.  We soon learned that any strategy works in direct proportion to the amount of effort parents put into it.  (I’ll share some of those ideas in a future column.)

  Both Scouting and the 4-H program were great tools that also help teach children life skills.  We salute scout leaders who take time weekly to work with boys and girls.  We’re blessed as a community, for Blanding has had an abundance of outstanding leaders.

You cannot plow a field by turning it over in your mind. 

The 4-H program was very up-close and personal in our family. For over 25 years I taught 4-H clubs which usually involved at least 1 or 2 of our children and their friends.  I liked 4-H because it locked us into a weekly schedule, that guaranteed that teaching would take place in the home.  We covered a gamut of skills from sewing, basic cooking, photography, child care, gardening, flower arranging, quilting, canning, bread making, etc.  In addition our 4-H club did community service, did demonstrations, modeled clothing, participated in the fair, won ribbons and money!  Doing things in a social situation is always makes learning more fun.  Our sons had a friend in the neighborhood who often came over on Fridays, and ended up helping with our Friday night cleaning routine. It was more fun for them, and I think he even liked it and learned a few things in the process.  He has thanked me many times for showing him how a functional family operated, and for the things he learned.  

God gives every bird its food, but He does not throw it into its nest.  ~J.G. Holland

Once a child has gained a skill it gives them confidence and courage.  Untaught, children flounder and often fail.  Too often parents expect schools to teach their kids life skills as well as academics, but a provident parent will teach critical life skills at home, and then give their children opportunities to use the skills on a regular basis.  If you can help some of their friends in the process, they will find satisfaction and confidence as well.  I promise, it will be worth the effort and it will might even help keep your house clean, and it will make your future daughter-in-laws happy that your boys know how to cook and clean.  "The difference between "try" and "triumph" is a little "umph."