Michael, I need you to mow the lawn. You mean, you need to trust a child to operate a sharp, wildly spinning blade without cutting off his foot. You want the children you're raising to be smart... Just not too smart.
The problem is, we have taught our kids that safety is more important than taking risks and earning rewards. My dad taught me how to use a table saw, drive & mow with a gas mower, when I was 7, plus lots of other dangerous work. (No serious injuries, except for a car wreck much later.) I think the lack of work ethic happens because the kids get past puberty (and harder to make them do something they don’t want to do) before they have to do hard physical labor. Some child labor & safety laws make sense, but I think they’re more extreme than is good for character development.
mischugenah about 8 years ago
“You’re right. I’ll go get one of the non-powered push mowers for you to use.”
carioca38 about 8 years ago
Yup – I have one of them and it is a serious workout. I’d think the blades would be more dangerous than the motorized one – they are sharp
Comic Minister Premium Member about 8 years ago
Agreed Kate.
erin.adamic Premium Member about 8 years ago
I wouldn’t let a kid near one of those power mowers! Does Kate have any idea how many accidents happen with those things??
Thomas & Tifffany Connolly about 8 years ago
Too late!!
Smiley Rmom about 8 years ago
The problem is, we have taught our kids that safety is more important than taking risks and earning rewards. My dad taught me how to use a table saw, drive & mow with a gas mower, when I was 7, plus lots of other dangerous work. (No serious injuries, except for a car wreck much later.) I think the lack of work ethic happens because the kids get past puberty (and harder to make them do something they don’t want to do) before they have to do hard physical labor. Some child labor & safety laws make sense, but I think they’re more extreme than is good for character development.
Airbender about 8 years ago
Fine, if the mower is too dangerous, he can go and weed the garden.