Today, Darius and I decided to stop by Sonic to try out some of the new items that TikTok has been buzzing about. Who would have thought that what seemed like a normal food run would turn into a heated debate about child labor—something I honestly hadn’t thought much about before.
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Noticing Something Unusual
The moment we arrived at Sonic, I felt something was a little off. The person who served us looked so young—I could swear that boy was only about 14, maybe even younger. Darius kept insisting he was no older than 9, but I thought my son was being a bit dramatic.
“Mom, look at him. There’s no way he’s 14,” Darius said, his voice full of concern.
I pulled out my phone right there and checked the law. Turns out in Ohio, kids from age 14 can legally work. On days when there’s no school, they can work up to 8 hours a day, 40 hours a week. To me, that seemed totally fine and reasonable.
The Unexpected Argument
What surprised me was Darius’s reaction. He was completely against the idea of 14-year-olds working full-time, even just for the summer.
“Mom, I think 14 is way too young to be working 40 hours a week. They’re still kids,” he said seriously.
I couldn’t agree with that. In my view, working early is a great thing—it helps kids build social skills, learn to manage money, and become more responsible. I started working at 14 myself, making $4.25 an hour, and those experiences shaped me in valuable ways.
“Son, 14 is the perfect age to start working. You’ve got all the energy and health—why not make use of it?” I explained.
Two Opposing Perspectives
But Darius stood firm. He believed kids should only work if their family truly needs the financial help.
“I just think only families who can’t afford things should have their 14-year-olds working,” he argued.
I didn’t see it that way. Work isn’t just about money—it’s about building character, gaining life experience, and preparing for the future. Even wealthy kids can benefit from working to understand the value of a dollar.
“Darius, do you think those millionaire kids don’t work? They also need independence and to learn what labor really means,” I pushed back.
Lessons From My Own Experience
I told Darius about my very first job—working at a summer camp for $4.25 an hour. It was a common program back then, and it taught me teamwork, time management, and that money doesn’t just fall from the sky.
But Darius countered that kids should enjoy their childhood, especially summers—time for fun, play, and discovery.
“Mom, 14 is still being a kid. They should be playing and learning in different ways,” he said firmly.
The Reality of a New Era
I understood where he was coming from. His generation has so many other opportunities—YouTube, social media, extracurriculars. In fact, Darius himself started YouTube early instead of working a traditional job.
Still, I believe real-world work experience brings lessons nothing else can replace. Showing up on time, collaborating with coworkers, handling customers—these are life skills that last forever.
An Open Ending
In the end, we agreed that every family has its own perspective and circumstances. Darius was curious to hear from others—should 14-year-olds be working full-time during the summer or not?
As for me, my answer is still yes. But I also respect parents who choose a different path for their children. At the end of the day, we all just want what’s best for the younger generation—whether that comes from working early or through other kinds of experiences.
So what do you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments—Blove 💕
