re: PSA: Have your able bodied at home son cut your grass!

I mowed lawns when I was a kid to earn some $$ and I think it is a good idea for kids to do when they get old enough.

I am 73 and I have mowed my own lawn most of my life. I had to let a neighbor mow my lawn a few weeks ago after I had knee surgery. I have a zero turn mower, but I could not get on it.

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I mow, weedeat and use a backpack blower for the clippings every weekend (except we had some rain this week and I did all the yardwork yesterday When I first bought the house, I didn't have any equipment and hired a guy to do the first cut. I got small yard, take me maybe 1 hour to do everything above , he said he'd charge 60 per week and I told him no thanks.

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I’m on about 3/4ac, My neighbors are paying $75/week or more for lawn service. I bought a $300 Toro with a Honda engine 8 years ago and still cranks1st pull.

I believe this is very important. I have four boys ranging from five years old to 18. With the exception of the youngest, they all have responsibilities. Yardwork is just one of them. They also plant their own crops, help with other work, and have their own band where they play music on weekends. They earn very good money for their ages. I believe the younger generation is not taught to work or how to earn responsibility because of this. Take a look at what’s going on in this country. We have spent three generations teaching our youngsters that hard work is a bad thing. Now we’re are paying the price for it.

My son started cutting when he was 12. We have a lot of grass to cut. Our yard, my mom's yard which includes two big pastures, and our church and cemetery. My dad used to cut it all, and got my son in on it when he turned 12 in 2010. My dad died in 2014, so I started cutting it with my son. He saved up the mowing money and used it in college. My daughter also started helping when she was around 14. I had about 6 yards I cut back in the 80's while in middle/high school from 1984-89.

I wrote this a couple of years ago after mowing grass around the grave of my 22 year old son. Thought it was fitting for this thread.

Mow grass with them because you never know when you’ll be mowing grass for them.
I don’t have what I would call regrets but I do wish I had done some things at least a little different. I would’ve mowed grass with him, instead of for him, and laughed when he mowed crooked lines. It was just grass. It’ll grow back and erase those mistakes.
I’d help him take out the trash instead of just doing it myself when he forgot. And guess what…I don’t yell at myself when I forget to take it out now that I have to do it by myself.
Instead of driving all the nails for him, I’d teach him to use a hammer. I’d teach to him to straighten the ones he bent and then I’d watch him start over and drive his mistake out of sight in that board.
I’d clean up his car with him instead of doing it for him. And when he missed a spot I’d watch him go back and wash away his mistakes.
I would shoot ball with him so I could get his rebound and watch him make up for the one he missed.
I’d pray with him instead of just praying for him. He’ll need to know how to take his mistakes to an altar one day.
Sitting here on top of this push mower, looking at his birth date and his death date, I’m proud to mow grass FOR him…but I’d rather be mowing grass WITH him. Take it from me, mow grass with your boy today…you’ll be glad you did and I will too.

Literally the best money I have ever spent."

Considering quality of life I do hope you're joking.

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how many kids do you have!?

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6