[leeniek]

I think I may be nuts but my restaurant is losing the busser for the weekends (and that's when we need a busser because that's our busiest time.. all day breaky place...lol) so I suggested to the one owner that my daughter would be interested and today they both came to me and said.. she's hired! Apparently they are hiring her based on the fact that I am one of their best workers and so the apple shouldn't fall too far from the tree so to speak. I know she can do it and do it well.. if I didn't think she could handle it I wouldn't have even made the suggestion. So on Saturday morning she's going to have an "interview" and then she will start next weekend. I want her to have the experience of an interview, because I want her to see that this is serious and she needs to really step up and take responsibilty as everyone works as part of the team and we all count on each other. I don't want to scare her but I want her to experience it .. I think it will be good for her. She is a little young.. 14.. but since Iwork there and I know the people she will be working with I am fine to allow her to work.

[amazingrace]

Congratulations to you, your daughter and the restaurant! While we lived in the city, I was a "career" waitress. I truly loved that kind of work. I was waitressing in a quaint little family-owned place when my daughter needed a job and they needed a busser ... very similar story to yours, leeniek.
When the boss hired my daughter, I told him "she's my daughter, but here she's your employee. If you have a problem with her work, you tell her, not me. If she has a problem with the job, she will tell you, not me. And, when she and I are scheduled together, I won't expect her to be my personal "slave"... she will be there to help wherever she's needed". For us it was beautiful. We worked together for nearly a year until she decided she wanted to waitress at another place. During that time we came to appreciate each other as people & co-workers, not just mother & daughter. Many of the patron were surprised to learn that she and I were related.
At 14, she has a lot to learn, but it sounds like she's willing and able to do it. I hope it works out well for you!

[DC Sunshine]

While I'm not working in the food industry, I do run a small business (water filters) from home.

My teens work with me, learning pretty much everythig from post, manufacture, importing components, dealing with customs, filing, archiving....the list is endless. They've been doing it since they were 14, and I work better with them than the many assistants who have come and (sometimes thank GOODNESS) gone.

They know a business from the inside out, how to run it, how to source info, parts, pricing, invoicing. Also the customer problems issues hehe. They've also learned lots of curse words from the boss! Ah well

**** I'm proud of them Other kids choose to work in the various fast food outlets or chain stores or supermarkets- nothing wrong with that, some places train young people very well. Working from home, there's no travel time, so they get more paid hours. There's no driving issues for me, and no worry about late night hours.

I'm saying- it works for us, they learn so much to put them in good stead for when they go into the workforce. They both have extensive interests outside of the home business and school also, so I reckon they get a pretty good balance.

I reckon if you only get the chance once it is great to work with your child. They grow up too fast, and you may not get the chance to see that side of them again.