Interview with HandyMan Larry Boys
We believe in the value of work and have taught our kids from an early on. Starting from the time they could play we taught them to pick up their toys when they were finished. Once they were about three we had them help us make beds or hand wash dishes or putt around in the yard doing whatever their little attention span would do for a few min. They loved working alongside us. Often times it was making more of a mess and yes it took longer but now we have some pretty good workers that neighbors seek to hire because they know the quality and hard work they provide.
Even though our kids know how to work and are grown kids we still have opportunities to teach them. Often Handyman Larry will take one of his three boys to work with him. Sometimes they get paid and sometimes they get paid by the lessons they learn. We believe that families that work together grow together and sometimes it’s about helping their family and in exchange they get to use our family car, or get specialty foods, clothes, shelter or mom driving them around to their activities. We interviewed the boys and asked them their thoughts on working with their dad and how they feel about sometimes not getting paid for it. Here are their answers…
Forrest: (27yrs old)
Forrest loves going to work with dad
- Father-son bonding
- Learn something new
- When dad is patient and teaches something new
Forrest doesn’t like
- Sometimes dad is impatient with him
Landon: (19yrs old)
Landon loves going to work with dad
- Different work every time, learn different things
- Getting up early and getting work done and relaxing rest of day
- Paid well-when they get paid
Landon doesn’t like
- Working in the heat
Daelynd: (17yrs old)
Daelynd: (17yrs old)Daelynd loves going to work with dad
- Bonding with his dad
- Learning new things
- Prepares him to take care of his own own house
Daelynd doesn’t like
- That when they get paid it’s usually several days after
HandyMan Larry LOVES
- Spending time with the boys
- He gets help
- He can get them to do the heavy lifting to save the old back
- Proud to see the boys have good work ethic
- He finishes the day earlier, gets done faster
- The comfort of knowing he has taught the kids to maintain their own home
What a great opportunity to be able to take the kids to work often and show them the value of hard work. Our daughter is just 1.5 years old now, but we’re redoing the bathroom in our home and she loves watching and helping and is always imitating what we do. That got me thinking how important it is to show her how to be self sufficient and lead by example.
I love when they are little and wanting to learn. I remember when my kids were small and would want to help do things. Usually, it ended up a bigger mess but I loved that they were willing and it offered good teaching moments as well as great memories. We tried making it fun. Instead of getting mad that mopping the floors turned into a pool we would bring out towels and pull them around on it and let them try to pull us on them. They grow up so fast and teaching them young is way easier than when they are older. lol.
That is how you teach your kids good work ethics. With less and less people working in trades or farming, I think kids are not being taught that.
I love this!! Teaching a strong work ethic and great mentoring and quality time.
I do love the bonds that form from the time like this.
We did the same thing with our kids. They worked on our rental properties and with my husband on projects. Both of them are capable of basic plumbing, electrical and painting skills.
It is such a great feeling to see kids as adults and watch them use we taught them. 🙂
WOW! What great boys you have, I truly enjoyed your post, and getting to know your family! Thank you for sharing your wonderful teaching moments and how you handled them!
Thank you. I am proud of my kids(they will always be kids to me. lol) especially as I watch them get older and are resourceful, constructive, contributing adults and teens.
This is great! Your boys are learning such great skills that will help them so much in the future!
It is nice to watch as they grow and use their skills. Proud moments!
Love this! What a great legacy to leave the boys!
Love this! We have a 3-year-old and a 1-year-old and having them clean up and help is so important to us. I hope to raise my kids to be wonderful workers like your boys!
Learning to fix things is a great life lession – hanging with dad is a great way to do it.
Yes! These skills are so important Great job, boys!
Spending time with your kids and teaching them the importance of hard work at the same time. Win-win!
Yes! When they were young sometimes we had to remind ourselves but so grateful that we did. 🙂
What a great way to teach your boys!
What great experiences together. Those life lessons will serve them well as they journey in their own. And the bond you’ve created will never break. Well done.
That is awesome! I have always brought my kids to work with me. They learned so much and since I traveled for work it was awesome to have one on one time.
What a great post and great way to teach them on their level.
I love the concept behind this! More parents need to teach their children the value of hard work! Great idea!
Leading and teaching by example! Such a wonderful family you have 🙂
Thank you!
Great job raising young men who will be responsible, respectful, productive members of society and will teach their children the same!
Hubby and I love spending time with our boys, teaching them something new, seeing their skills and talents emerge. They work very hard and both Hubby and I have VERY strong work ethics (mine to a fault sometimes). When they were just toddlers, that was when we started them on laundry. They absolutely loved taking the wet clothes out of the washer and throwing them into the dryer. Oh, the giggles!!! Same thing with putting them in! Today, I have three boys who know how to manage the laundry on days I am unable to do so. It’s GREAT!
That is great! Those are good times and It is great to watch kids grow be productive and self-sufficient. Such a great feeling!
So often not the case anymore where kids learn the value of hard work. Great job!
What a great series of interviews! I love teaching the value of working toward passion. It’s so great!
Its so great that the kids get to learn from their dad. They will make good homeowners one day!
These are such important things to teach your kids! My kids don’t always do things the way I want them to, but I need to learn to let go and let them do it their way. As long as they’re learning to work, that’s all that matters right?
These are important lessons. I think it’s really great that no matter the age, these lessons are being taught to them.