Working For A Living

Blog  Challenge:

Tell us about your first paying job.

The summer between 3rd and 4th grades, my parents bought a greenhouse and opened a flower shop in their hometown in Wyoming.  We moved in August of that summer.  I was 9 1/2 years old.  David was 2 years older. Sharilyn was 2 years younger.  Devon was simply 2. 

Instead of allowance for things we did around the house, we got paid for doing things around the business, which was right next door to our house.  We dusted, watered plants, swept the floors, and did other simple tasks.  I think we started at 10 cents per hour, but we thought we were raking in the dough.

I worked for my parents until the middle of my junior year, when we moved to Denver.  (I did eventually get a raise.)  Over the years, I learned more complicated tasks such as waiting on customers, running the cash register, driving a stick shift delivery van, walking into a church before a funeral without jumping when I see the open casket, answering phones in a business-like manner, creating simple floral arrangements, helping with accounts payable and payroll, and eventually processing accounts receivable.

My folks were demanding employers, especially Dad.  I used to get quite frustrated because he demanded so much more from us than he did of his other employees....even the adults.  I didn't think that was fair.  However, as I grew older and worked with a variety of people, I came to appreciate the lessons I learned from Mom and Dad as we worked side by side.