Thanks, Dad, for teaching me to work

[Dantilla]

I just spent a few weeks performing tenant improvements on a commercial building. One of the tasks was installing a few thousand feet of laminate flooring in a exercise/dance studio at a high-end women's fitness center. A half-dozen temp guys were hired for the day the floor went down, and a few of them were pretty worthless- No concept of efficiency, or doing things in a workman-like manner. While human nature is to snigger snigger at their incompetence, it occurred to me that without my dad, that could be me.

At 12-13 years old, I thought it very unfair that while my friends were playing ball after school, I was working at my dad's jobsites. At the time, I thought he just wanted the cheap labor.

Now I see he was instilling in me a very strong work ethic. One that has served me well.
The ability to work has allowed me to drive Porsches and fly airplanes at my leisure. How cool is that?

Without the strong foundation my dad gave me, I could easily have turned out to be one of those lazy guys who complains that life isn't fair.

Thanks, Dad.

[Seahawk]

Perfect.

My Dad has lung cancer, inoperable and they just moved him to Hospice care.

So I've had some time recently to reflect on the gift that were my parents. Like you, I may not have always understood, but without them I would not be the person I am.

I raise a toast to your father, Dantilla: Salute.

[ckelly78z]

I try to instill the same values that you speak of in my son. Being a 15 year old on a 10 acre farm with lots of animals and firewood to cut, there is plenty to do for my son. He also complains that he doesn't live near his friends just like my daughter did at his age, but at 21 years old, she understands the hard work that needs to be done to get through college and take care of her own place, along with still helping Mom and Dad now and then.

The best thing you can do for your kids is to work side by side with you and give them praise for everything they did, and reward them. In our downtime, we ride dirtbikes all over the place and ride horses in our newly built indoor riding arena.

[WPOZZZ]

You were very lucky to spend that time with your dad. My dad was ill from when I was very young and passed when I was 12.

[wildthing]

I grew up in a different country. We paid for labor. I learned nothing of the sort. So now I pay through the nose for anything beyond a simple job. But my parents did teach me in a different way, that through hard work and other skills, you can eventually make enough money to pay for such labor.

Different strokes for different folks I guess.

[plumb4u2]

I grew up with a father who was a salesman however he was the ultimate diy guy, he would not pay for anything, if he didn't know how to do it he tought himself

I turned out to be the same way thanks to him

one of my close golf buddies barley knows what a Phillips screw drive is and is very happy to open his wallet for whatever needs to be done

[2porscheguy]

Originally Posted by Dantilla

At 12-13 years old, I thought it very unfair that while my friends were playing ball after school, I was working at my dad's jobsites. At the time, I thought he just wanted the cheap labor.

Now I see he was instilling in me a very strong work ethic. One that has served me well.


Without the strong foundation my dad gave me, I could easily have turned out to be one of those lazy guys who complains that life isn't fair.

Thanks, Dad.

Dantilla, same here! My older brother and I, along with my dad:
(1) Installed an inground pool and did extensive landscaping to our backyard.
(2) Built an addition to our house.
(3) Built a cottage from the foundation up.

This went on from ages 10-20. The rule was that we had to put in at least 1.5 hrs schooldays and 4 hrs per day on weekends and days off, then we were free to hang out with our friends. In fact if my friends ever showed up at our place my dad would try to put them to work as well! So, as a result of that, my buddies would not to set foot on our property for fear of "old man Wilson" putting them to work!

I'm trying to instill the same work ethic in my son but, man, he can sure be evasive at times. Funny, when I told him about my teenage years, working for my dad, he asked me how much my dad paid me? I said "son, do you see this mark on my back, just behind my left shoulder?" "Ya, sort of.." "That was my paycheque...a pat on the back!"

As a result of my upbringing I've very much turned into a DIY guy....I too am pretty cheap though as I'd rather figure out how to fix something than pay someone to do it. My wife cringes sometimes though, as whenever an appliance in our home breaks down I give her two choices....SHE can buy a new washer, dryer, dishwasher, etc OR I will repair the old one for FREE!....we've had the same washer/dryer for over 20 years now...looks like hell but they still work!

Thanks Dad....and RIP!

[BK911]

My dear ole dad taught me how to take a punch.

[2porscheguy]

Seriously BK911?

[Rot 911]

We were to poor to pay others to fix things. My dad learned how to do it himself and I learned from him.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

It cuts both ways. One of my strongest attributes is my work ethic, learned from my dad. And we learned how to apply skills learned in one project to another so now I feel like I can do pretty much anything, and do. There's the problem, for me anyway, I'm addicted to work and projects. It's hard to relax and just take it easy. I feel guilty many times when I'm not being productive. I do feel great when I accomplish good things through work.

[dennis in se pa]

It has more to do with your mother choosing him as her mate. Yes- the male may do the pursuing, but the woman makes the selection. Your genes have more to do with it. But him trying to educate you was certainly a push in the right direction. How many families do you see where the kids were brought up the same but turn out totally different? Same parents, different gene mix. Like some kids will get blue eyes and some kids brown. So thank your father, but thank mom too.

And if these kids don't know how to "work" by the time they enter the real world, it is a little late to teach them. That's why they were available - they had nothing to offer.

Like many a father has said to his son - "If you don't have it ...you can't put it there...but if you DO have it....no one can take it away."

[Tilikum Turbo]

That's a great thing to have...engaged parents.

In the Summer, I worked 6 days a week as a Caddy...my Mondays were off, and we were allowed to use the course, but my Dad made me mow the lawn before going to play golf.
He never explained WHY, and at the time it drove me nuts.

The concept of 'work before pleasure' came to me as I then entered adulthood, and looking back, it was clear to me the message.

[Tilikum Turbo]

[I][QUOTE= the male may do the pursuing, but the woman makes the selection[/I]

The smart man selects a woman WORTHY of the pursuit...TnA, just like pretty girls are a dime a dozen.

[Captain Ahab Jr]

My dad convinced me never to quit, even when the going gets tough.

I wanted to quit my degree after failing my first year maths but my dad convinced me to retake the exam which allowed me to finish my degree.

If it wasn't for my dad I would have stopped chasing my dream of working on fast cars but instead I can proudly say because of my dad I've worked on cars that were beyond my wildest dreams as kid.

I hope I can do the same for my kids when they hit a tough curve on the road to pursuing their dreams

[jcommin]

I worked hard as a kid. From the time I was 10 years old, I worked in family businesses. I never had time to watch Sat morning TV - I worked. I was taught to be very independent - trust no one. My dad didn't want me working like he did or spend long hours like I did as a kid. He stressed education. Knowledge is power.

I listened and succeeded. My dad gave up college to work in the family business and became an electrician for the railroad. He loved his skill but hated what he did. He was very well read, spoke French and loved Greek philosophy and mythology. I really misunderstood him. I will tell you he is my benchmark on judging what is a man. My Uncle Nick is a close 2nd. I know what a man is - I just remember them.

[NY65912]

I worked with my father from the age of 8, all through high school and college. He was from the "other side" as they used to say, Italy. He did concrete, brick, marble, tile, plaster and terrazzo. I was his gopher. I carried his tools and fetched the materials. I did not have summer vacations or holidays off from school. He started his day at 5:30 AM and worked six, sometimes seven days a week with side work.

He taught me that hard work was good and never to be ashamed of what it was you did for a living if unglamourous. I am always early for work or an appointment and stop work when the job is finished. All good attributes that I have passed on to my children. My grandfather was the hardest worker I have ever heard about, but that's another story, that's where Dad got his work ethic.

My father is 91 years old and the biggest complaint he has is how he cannot do the things he wants to do physically, mostly working in his garden and fixing things around the house. But he can still crush your hand if he shakes it!

But, at 59 years old I am tired of 10-12 hour days and I for the first time am thinking of retirement.

So Dantilla, I completely understand and agree with you. You (we) were very lucky to have a dad like yours. Although at the time it did seem as though I was slave labor.

My Dad made me who I am and is the major force in my success.

[fanaudical]

Great sentiment and thank you for sharing that.

I learned work ethic from my mom and grand parents (dad was never around because of work).

My struggle has been to instill some of the same work ethic in my son and have completely failed. He rebels against all things productive. He is going to have a hard time as an adult.