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Nowadays, kids just are not allowed to do that sort of work.

I'd love to find a kid that would help out around my farm. Over the past 10 years or so I've hired, on average, one to three kids per summer to help out with mowing, weed eating, fence repair, etc. One kid out of about 15 I've hired actually stayed with me all summer (and he made a pile of cash in the process). The rest lasted two to four days before they either quit because "it's hot" or I had to let them go because they just wouldn't work. After the first two days of work, I reviewed the efforts of the most recent kid I hired this year and he blew up at me, screamed a bunch of vulgarities, flipped me off and told me to go do something that is physically impossible. This was a 13 year old, no less.

I pay cash, daily, and it's much better than minimum wage, but I expect them to work and work hard for their pay. That doesn't seem to fly with these cry baby kids these days......

It is a different era.

Part of it is a side-effect fo the two income paradigm, where parents substitute money or material goods for time spent with their kids.

We took pride in being able to work hard. The perks of responsibility were more responsibility, but that meant you were driving the tractor (at 8) running a bulldozer (at 10), hunting deer ( at 9), had your own boat (just a skiff, but a boat, at 10), and a bunch of stuff which laws have basically shut down since, but for us were part and parcel of the great rites of passage to manhood.

Because there is no cultural emphasis on self-respect, and because the law also hobbles the development of those who would be responsible and capable, you get a small fraction left who would jump at the chance, and a bunch who would rather water ski or fish on a video game than do the real thing.

The kids you get who are willing to work will likely be shakers and movers and the achievers of their generation. Some of the rest may develop later, but the former will be the core.

Work 'em, pay 'em, praise them when they do well, mentor them.

As for the ones who won't work, well at least they can add a reason to do well in school so they can get a soft job in out of the sun...or not and haunt their parent's basement and hang out on DU...

Maybe if you presented it as a chance to lose weight, increase muscle tone, increase stamina, and make money, too...

One kid out of about 15 I've hired actually stayed with me all summer (and he made a pile of cash in the process). The rest lasted two to four days before they either quit because "it's hot" or I had to let them go because they just wouldn't work. After the first two days of work, I reviewed the efforts of the most recent kid I hired this year and he blew up at me, screamed a bunch of vulgarities, flipped me off and told me to go do something that is physically impossible. This was a 13 year old, no less.

Bit of advice. Post your "help wanted" ad to local homeschool groups. You'll be amazed at the quality of kid you get--and they may even be excited about working for you.