Instilling a strong work ethic

[Agvg]

Don't know in the us but today's young people are one of the most hard working generation In a long time, they have the lowest crime rate in decades, study hard and work hard to get what they want.

So is work ethic a problem?

 

[Doofy]

I never got a whippin' I didn't deserve and tried the same with my kids. Never dish out punishment in anger. It is possible to blister a butt with love. Children need reasonable boundaries that make sense and consistency from both parents. Also, I wish I had learned to talk to my kids instead of at them.

 

[JRobyn]

The ONE thing I consistently see that results in kids with a good work ethic, is a good work ethic demonstrated consistently by their parents.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Never mind the work ethic of the parents. How about just having two parents for starters? There has been a consistent 50% Divorce rate for many decades. Why does society not address the root cause of this?

 

[Agvg]

To address the issue of divorce is difficult, can't really see how. Better divorced than two living in a non functional relationship.

 

[95XL883]

What JR said. I have four boys, 2 from my first marriage, 1 from my wife痴 first marriage and 1 from this marriage. All have grown up like their parents. Luckily I had more influence on my first two than my ex-wife but she still screwed them up some with her bad behavior. And luckily my wife had more influence than her first husband but he still got a bad trait or two from his first dad. Our youngest is an absolute joy. He grew up in a home with both parents working together and caring deeply for each other. He saw me working hard and just joined right in.

A favorite story on my youngest. I was working on the carb on my Harley. He was three and said 的 help you Dadfy? A pleasantry was exchanged and he went to the other side of the bike. I finished and went to his side. That little beaming face looked up at me and said 的 help you Daddy. There was the ignition. Partly disassembled hanging from the bike. I just had to smile, tussle his hair and asked if I could help him finish.

There are others but my wife and I always had him participate in our tasks and we participated in his. He痴 in engineering school now and doing well. The summer job he had last year asked him to come back.

OP, you are doing well. Your wife and you have the right expectation and are setting the right example. Good job, sir.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I think there is an awful lot you could teach kids about relationships. Never mind teaching sex-ed. Teach how the attraction process works in women as it has pretty much remained unchanged since cave man days. It took me fifty years before I learned this. My electricity teacher in high school told us boys never to try and understand a woman. What bad, bad advice!

 

[95XL883]

Bad marriages and divorce definitely make life harder for kids. I was naive with my first wife and both my boys and I really paid for it. Same with my wife痴 first marriage. Our long term stability and simply caring for each other drew them in te right direction but they still have some baggage.

 

[95XL883]

I understand my current wife perfectly. She痴 right I知 wrong. lol.

 

[tcreeley]

Work ethic results from the kids seeing the parents model it. When young kids want to join in and help the parents out, don't scold them, tell them how to do a better job. Let them help and have fun doing it. They will look forward to the family time that work gives them.

If they hate what they do - then chores won't give them a good work ethic - they will just try to sneak and do a lousy job, or skip the chores.
Think of them as part of the team and appreciate what they do.

Your biggest hassle will be peer pressure and drugs and booze. Be part of their life, know the details, and share it. Discipline doesn't make a parent. Sharing and appreciating does. Go the extra mile and they will meet you on it. - Mostly, your kids should smile when they see you - not duck for cover because you have a chore for them. Work along with them, talk, smile - and they will adopt your work ethic and manner.

Good luck.