Photo by Laurie Mustard / Winnipeg Free Press
At nine years old, my grandson Ryan is a born natural with the riding mower.
Nothing warms a parent or grandparent’s heart more than seeing their kids or grandkids reach the age where they can start lending some serious help in the chores department.
My grandson, Ryan, is nine years old and a total character in the best sense of the word. Last weekend, I asked him if he’d like to try driving the lawn tractor and cutting some grass. His face lit up and he replied, "Yes, but I have to play with the dogs first."
Absolutely!
I have a gas golf cart at home specifically for the kids to drive around the yard on and Ryan drives it like he was a pro driver in a former life. Total confidence and control. A natural!
Now the lawn tractor, a 23-horsepower Craftsman with a 42-inch cut and hydrostatic drive, is well within his handling capabilities — except for a few size-related challenges.
To start the tractor, you have to be able to push the clutch/brake pedal down with your left foot, choke with the left hand, while turning the key with your right. The problem here is you have to remain seated while doing so because as soon as your bum leaves the seat, the tractor stops.
Ryan can’t manage all these actions simultaneously without his butt sliding off the seat due to the current length of his legs (although they’re rapidly growing). So that part I have to help him with.
Same when he attempts to engage the mower blades. Butt leaves seat, mower stops. "GRANDPA! HELP!"
Done. Now he’s ready to go. I begin the training by mowing a strip (big oval) for him to follow and stay within, and off he goes, full throttle, using the hydrostatic transmission to speed up and slow down as needed, the mower almost stalling every time he hits a bump and his 80-pound body lifts off the seat for a second.
Yes, I gave him ear plugs, but they fell out. Too big for his young ears. I’m going to have to get him some headphones. Still, he mows the designated area in short order, switches to the golf cart for some motoring fun, then comes back for another go at the lawn mower. That’s when I put a big smile on his face by telling him he can take a few runs over Grandpa Mountain. Ooh, adventure!
Born to drive, that kid. Now he’s ready to come and mow when I need him and his two older brothers have also expressed an interest. I’m a happy Grandpa.
Now then moms and dads, grandmas and grandpas, comes the big question: once the kids or grandkids start helping out around the place, should they be paid?
Kids living at home, absolutely not. That’s just part of them helping carry the load of the household that feeds them, clothes them and provides them shelter.
But what of them helping with chores/tasks at Grandma’s and Grandpa’s house? The same. Forced child labour for those who love them is character building and an essential part of learning how to grow up while giving back.
Yes, of course I’m kidding.
Grandpa is grateful for any help he can get in the chores department, but again, should they be paid for their "work?"
I personally don’t think so. If they want to help out, great, but that’s all part of being family and helping out where needed, which comes back to them in other ways through the family.
I do believe, however, that if you have a project or regular chore you have to hire outside help for, a task above and beyond token mowing or the like, you could offer your grandkids an opportunity to experience being hired in the job sense, to give them a chance to make a few dollars while learning what’s expected of a working world person.
They have to learn sometime. If not, they’ll likely still be living at home at 40, feeling totally entitled and sorry for themselves that no one seems willing to step up and buy them a new couch and iPhone. Sadly, this group is at unusually high risk of developing early onset arthritis in their thumbs, which will give them a reason to live with you forever.
Kidding aside, it does my heart good to see Ryan’s enthusiasm for driving this mower, taking pride in being entrusted with doing a grown-up job at such a young age.
True also of Will and Tyler, who will be happy to hear I’ll soon be bringing another riding mower home, so they can all mow like crazy. Then I take them out to some remote section road where I teach them all to drive, a tradition for kids in the Mustard family, hoping not to get caught. If you RCMP are looking for me while I am so engaged, I’ll be over on the gravel roads east of Bird’s Hill somewhere and NOWHERE near Headingley. Good hunting.
Comments or feedback, love to hear from you!
lmustard1948@gmail.com
