patp79•2mo ago

Warning: My teenage son wants to skip college and join me on the dredge

I've been running a suction dredge for about twelve years now. My boy is sixteen and just told me he'd rather work with me after high school than go to college. He helps out on some weekend jobs and really enjoys the machinery. I'm glad he's interested, but I know this job can be rough with long days away from home. It's tough to see him pass up school for this life. How have other operators handled family members wanting to come aboard? Any advice on setting them up right without pushing too hard?

3 comments

3 Comments

rowanh962mo ago

Start by letting him try a full season with you to see the real grind. I mean, my cousin jumped into his dad's welding shop and it totally changed his view after a few months. Maybe just give it a trial run before any big decisions.

elliot5642mo ago

So after @rowanh96's trial idea, how do you check if he's really cut out for the hard parts?

olivert181mo ago

But what's the plan if he does stick it out? I mean, are you going to put him on the books as an employee with a real wage, or is it just cash under the table for a while? That stuff gets messy fast.