"For young and for old, a place at the table, revisiting the roles, deciding the share with wisdom and grace, dividing the power, for women and men, a system that is fair."
unknown
Gentle readers, I have a short story to share. Some time back, at a family function, I sat talking to my oldest Grandson whom I do not know very well. He is a fine young man and stood over six feet tall plus. I thought I needed to get to know him before it is too late and he is a grown man. I asked him if he would like to come and stay with me for a week and work with me. He said he would ask him mom.
Two weeks later, I answered the phone at work and heard, "Grandma?"! And it was on. Some time later, it was Monday morning and I was trying to wake "the boy" Adam, to get to the shop.
The fact that I seemed to miss was that he was barely 14. A very tall 14. He was not at the point of self discipline. Adam and I arrived at the shop that morning and at the 8:00 AM staff meeting I introduced him and that he would be here a week to help out.
My guys embraced Adam and they all pitched in finding safe things he could do. I learned very quickly that Adam had to be kept busy. His first task that Monday, was to use a scuff pad, about 1000 grit sand paper and scuff the quarter panel of a car ready to be painted. My first clue of the week to come was when, in his vigor, he sanded the taillight of the vehicle. I walked up and inhaled a large amount of oxygen, gasped and my shop manager did an eye pop about the same time. Nothing was said to not embarrass Adam, but he was taken off the sand line. Quietly, a new taillight was ordered and no one said a thing.
Adam was then tasked with washing cars, (safest thing we could think of) and seemed to do well until he came up to me and said the power washer was broken. Again, my General Manager quietly ordered a new hose on line for our expensive power washer and nothing was said.
I had what was to be a very expensive week ahead of me. Adam is a hard and good worker. After he cleaned the shop, the office and the bathrooms we ran out of safe labor for the young man. My crew then took turns with Adam. He would hang out in the detail department with a great and patient young man and washed car windows as the detailer replaced emblems, trim, etc. Every one took turns. We even tried to let him answer the phone. That was worse than the taillight.
Adam seemed to enjoy lunch the most in his daily activities. Each day, he went to lunch with a different group of guys. I gave him money and he tagged along. He went to lunch with a slightly ornery group and they had lunch at "Hooters". Adam was repeatedly told, "Do not tell Grandma!"
He did not but I got wind of it within an hour as some of them could not keep a secret. I though it was great and it was good he was having fun. After all, he will have to work someday and the experience was good.
Somehow, we got through the week with only a few minor mishaps. Adam went home with a new laptop that I bought him for all his hard work. I now knew a grandson I had not known before and I hope he remembers his experience with a smile. I do.
Postscript: His father, my son, had to drive down the following week and repair my laptop which Adam had been allowed access to. Lesson leaned. Let them play with their own toys! It is cheaper.
God Bless all. Shangri La
unknown
Gentle readers, I have a short story to share. Some time back, at a family function, I sat talking to my oldest Grandson whom I do not know very well. He is a fine young man and stood over six feet tall plus. I thought I needed to get to know him before it is too late and he is a grown man. I asked him if he would like to come and stay with me for a week and work with me. He said he would ask him mom.
Two weeks later, I answered the phone at work and heard, "Grandma?"! And it was on. Some time later, it was Monday morning and I was trying to wake "the boy" Adam, to get to the shop.
The fact that I seemed to miss was that he was barely 14. A very tall 14. He was not at the point of self discipline. Adam and I arrived at the shop that morning and at the 8:00 AM staff meeting I introduced him and that he would be here a week to help out.
My guys embraced Adam and they all pitched in finding safe things he could do. I learned very quickly that Adam had to be kept busy. His first task that Monday, was to use a scuff pad, about 1000 grit sand paper and scuff the quarter panel of a car ready to be painted. My first clue of the week to come was when, in his vigor, he sanded the taillight of the vehicle. I walked up and inhaled a large amount of oxygen, gasped and my shop manager did an eye pop about the same time. Nothing was said to not embarrass Adam, but he was taken off the sand line. Quietly, a new taillight was ordered and no one said a thing.
Adam was then tasked with washing cars, (safest thing we could think of) and seemed to do well until he came up to me and said the power washer was broken. Again, my General Manager quietly ordered a new hose on line for our expensive power washer and nothing was said.
I had what was to be a very expensive week ahead of me. Adam is a hard and good worker. After he cleaned the shop, the office and the bathrooms we ran out of safe labor for the young man. My crew then took turns with Adam. He would hang out in the detail department with a great and patient young man and washed car windows as the detailer replaced emblems, trim, etc. Every one took turns. We even tried to let him answer the phone. That was worse than the taillight.
Adam seemed to enjoy lunch the most in his daily activities. Each day, he went to lunch with a different group of guys. I gave him money and he tagged along. He went to lunch with a slightly ornery group and they had lunch at "Hooters". Adam was repeatedly told, "Do not tell Grandma!"
He did not but I got wind of it within an hour as some of them could not keep a secret. I though it was great and it was good he was having fun. After all, he will have to work someday and the experience was good.
Somehow, we got through the week with only a few minor mishaps. Adam went home with a new laptop that I bought him for all his hard work. I now knew a grandson I had not known before and I hope he remembers his experience with a smile. I do.
Postscript: His father, my son, had to drive down the following week and repair my laptop which Adam had been allowed access to. Lesson leaned. Let them play with their own toys! It is cheaper.
God Bless all. Shangri La
