I have so many friends whose parents own(ed) small businesses (liquor stores, dry cleaning, etc) and made them work for them.
Thankfully my parents aren't! And never did 
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My dad is a podiatrist and owned his own practice. Sometimes I would help him out here and there, small things around the office. But nothing big.
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Yup. They owned a tire shop and I remember being about 8 years old and rolling rims to the junk pile when we didn't have customers. By the time I was 10, I could operate all of the machinery in the shop and frequently did.
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My DH is still a slave a few times a year!
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yes, and I wanted to work there!
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My parents were small business owners and it was expected that we work for them. From a very young age we filed, answered phones, scheduled appointments.
I still can't believe that my dad let me be the face of his company on the phone at 7 and 8 years old!
I remember taking a message for one customer and they were describing the air conditioning problem they were having to me. I listened and then at the end told them what I thought was wrong and suggested that they try a few things to fix the problem. I walked them through the steps they would have to take. The guy was kind of pissed off and insisted on a service call. Well, what do you know but this 8 year old was completely correct! That pissed the guy off more and resulted in a free of charge service call.
I remember being so upset that the guy would disregard my expertise despite my age. Maybe he had no idea that my siblings and I grew up playing with compressors, filters, pilot lights etc. We had all spent time on roofs of shopping malls watching my dad do installs, doing duct work and commercial refrigeration.
Don't mess with me when it comes to HVAC. Mr. Jacks defers it all to me!
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@Mrs. Jacks: Impressive!! Mad props!
My parents owned a couple restaurants when I was younger, but wasn't old enough to help. I'd just tag along and go with them. My aunt and uncle own a restaurant, and when I got old enough, I went to work for them, but I requested to. I enjoyed it!
Hubby and I own a donut shop, but not sure if we'll keep it long enough for our kids to know about it. If we do, they'd come with us to the shop, but I wouldn't asking them to help restock the condiments station or sweep the floor at the end of the day, or help expedite during rush hour. I wouldn't want them to make donuts though. That's back breaking work, and dangerous!
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Yep, my dad owned his own glass business. But it was in a bad, bad area of town. We were never expected to work there. Kids don't belong in a shop with lots of dangerous equipment like that, plus lots of glass that can break, anyways.
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They were. And yes they did.
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@Alivoo01: Donut! I'd be so fat! How fun. I'd invent all kinds of yummy donut flavors. Do you have one with bacon?!
@blackbird: This is exactly why in retrospect I'm surprised that we got to do everything we did for our business. Dropping a 500 lb compressor on your toe is no joke!
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They didn't. But my dad was a TV news reporter for most of his career and he would sometimes let me visit the TV station and watch the news live. During commercial breaks the anchors would let me sit in their chairs and read the newscast, hehe.
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They used to own their own business (fixing computers back in the day before buying new were affordable). I never worked for them because they went out of business before I was old enough to. But my sister did on her summer breaks, she'd be their driver - picking up broken computers and dropping off fixed computers.
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My parents aren't but DH's parents are. He, along with all of his siblings and most of his cousins, have worked at their store.
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My parents owned a large daycare....and guess who cleaned the day care toilets from THIRD GRADE onward? Me! I had to clean the girl's bathroom, and my brother had to clean the boy's bathroom.
We had to clean them right at 6 pm, every day. We got paid $15 a week (now I realize we were totally ripped off), and my mom would inspect afterward. We had to clean to mirrors, sinks, toilets (down to the floor) and mop the floors. I did it until HS. I had the better bathroom, because the little boys would get pee everywhere and my brother had to clean it all!
My favorite story is that one Christmas morning (this is a true story, I swear), my mom wouldn't let us open presents until we cleaned the day care bathrooms because we didn't do it the day before because we'd gone to church for the Christmas Eve service.
So my brother and I cried and cried while cleaning the bathrooms and thought we had the meanest parents ever (we didn't--our parents were actually really nice). Now that I'm older, I think my mom was just stalling for time as she made us a big breakfast.
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My parents own a construction company and both DH and I have been working there for a little over two years! I really love it because I get to spend time with both parents every day, they are very okay with me leaving for any appointments or errands. Like today for example, we got to leave an hour early because we have someone coming over to fix DH's piano. It is also good because I don't hsve to talk to them like my bosses. If my mom has a bad business idea, I can talk to her about it honestly vs having to bite my tounge.
Also, if they go on big vacations they always take DH and I so we don't have to worry about calling out of work!
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yep. my parents have a restaurant. I started running the front at age 12.... by myself. Although it wasn't fun all the time, it was the best lesson I ever had. I definitely learned to appreciate a dollar!
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@Anagram: Oh wow!! I love how when we're young, we always think our parents are the meanest/worst/whatever else and they always tell us "you'll thank me one day or you'll understand when you're my age" and we blow it off. Then when THAT day comes, it's *face palm* because they're right, we secretly thank them and fully understand even if we hate to admit it.
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My dad owns his own business, which he bought from my grandfather when he retired. My brother, sister and I all worked there over summers in high school and college (by choice) and now we all work there together along with my husband and brother in law. It is truly a family affair!
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My parents owned a Christmas tree farm and we helped out all year long. I remember crying when my dad forced me to learn to drive the tractor so I could help mow (I'm a scardy cat and needed the push - it was actually fun after a while).
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Yep! My dad owned a record store for almost 30 years. I worked there off and on through my first summer off college. I was a little kid who new her music trivia.
Also, my aunt and uncle asked me to sub for their receptionist a few times at their law firm. I think I was about 12.
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Yup! Both my parents own thier own! My Dad owns a resturant- which I still work in the summer if he needs help or time off (he is 63 so the 12 hour days are getting to be alot for him) And I work full time for my Mom at her dance studio- there are positives to having your parents are your boss- but there are also negatives! I def. appreciate where money comes from though- and how hard they worked so we could have a good childhood!
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My parents are, but they never did! We had a lot of friends who did work for their parents though!
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@Mrs. Jacks: My DH has me handle our tire issues because of my childhood.
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@MaisyMay: I was going to comment on our similar experience!
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My dad did, and I ran errands for him. Nothing major though.
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@Mrs. Jacks: Yup. Being a young girl working in a predominantly male business can be pretty entertaining!
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yup from elementary school! i did a little bit of everything but perhaps the most interesting was i transcribed movies -- home alone, terminator 2, pretty woman, ghost... (my parents own esl schools).
and now i can recite most of those movies!
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@Mrs. Jacks: the story you told makes me think Lala is very much like her mama (based on your stories of her!)... ibuprofen and tea anyone?
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@prettylizy: LOL!
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