good for you. little bastard deserved it.

I was a teenager once too, but you did the right thing. rules are rules and as long as you are paying him you get to make the rules.

Oh dear, sounds like his idiot mother's never had a job either.

Dont parents realize that that just re enforces their kid's bad behavior? I was a teenager very recently (ok it's been like 4 years) and never would have dreamed of acting like that.
I dont think I would have put up with him for as long as you did!
Nice work on not telling off his mom, Im not sure I would have had the self control!

Socialisation? The poor kid's been socialised by his parents to not have an ounce of responsibility, initiative or any concept of the organisation being greater than the individual.

The mother has done irreparable harm to her son and the shame is that it is a worldwide phenomenon - the 'entitlement' mentality of rights without responsibility.

First-time commenter here! Your story sounds eerily similar to the stories my husband tells from his days teaching high school math and dealing with parents. He confiscates cell phones on a regular basis, amid protests that "they're just on vibrate". Bah.

At least he was only smoking a cigerette and not a joint. I've seen pot smoked behind many a restaurant dumpster. One of my managers was even taken in for questioning because some stupid kid had left his stash outside where a cop who drove by saw it. Because the manager was an adult (the kid was 16) and in charge, he got a lot of the blame.

I remember watching my parents go through their too-long phase of 'our son couldn't possibly be doing ...' (fill it in, he did a LOT). It took a while, but Mom finally clued in. However, Dad has always resented having his 'perfect child' bubble burst.
Also, apologies for resembling the grammar patrol, but did you intend "throes" of teen-dom??

I've got one of those in my kitchen right now.
We tried to fire him once but he begged for a second chance, promising he would be better.
The pattern has been exactly the same as you describe...first week, great-second week, eh-third week, if I followed him out to the dumpster and "accidentally" knocked him in how long would it be before someone came looking for him?
Sunday night was the final straw...after reminding him three times to clean up his station before he left, I went over there to wash out the soup pots and found FOUR take out cups half filled with various beverages scattered around the sink area. I give up--obviously I am not going to be able to socialize this kid. Back to the woods with him.

FW you are a better person than I. I would have made sure I was the first to end the conversation with that sniveling bitch. You can rest assured she'll be having similar conversations with various law enforcement officials, prosecutors and probation officers in the years to come.

Another example of the appalling products of our kid-centric society. You may have done this kid a favor by terminating him. . . but as long as Mommy Dearest is there to fluff up his already overinflated ego the Kid is going to have a crummy life! Too bad for him. But at least he's out of your kitchen!

It's really sad to see these "helicopter parents". They just don't realize how much they are actually damaging their child's life by doing everything for them and making excuses for them. These kids grow up and they'll never learn to live on their own because they're so used to Mommy and Daddy taking care of everything. I have a co-worker whose dad calls her every morning to wake her up for work. She's 24 and we work at a professional company. Worse yet, I've been the contact person for a couple of positions we were trying to fill and I often had PARENTS calling me to find out about the job/set up an interview/complaining that I hadn't hired their precious genetic code. *sigh* So very sad.... As much as I'm proud of you for firing the kid, I feel really sorry for him that he'll never grow up and lead a good life.

heh.

I wash dishes for a living right now. Its work and it pays the bills, my main issue with uniforms is that I spill bleach on them from going too fast.

I can see both sides... its not too much to ask to wear a uniform, but it does get dirty in a hurry.

Keep up the good writing

It's hard to find good help these days......I don't know what that kid is complaining about!.....I would rather wear a uniform than my own clothes....less wear and tear on my own duds!

I think that mother needed to cut the cord and let him be responsible for his actions when he was about 13.

I completely don't get why the kid would rather destroy his own clothes than a uniform.

Years ago I worked for a big-box hardware store and we were given these butt-ugly aprons to wear. I had to throw it out and get a new one about every month or so (we weren't allowed to take them home to wash them - go figure). Those things got pretty disgusting in a short time while you're slugging filthy, dusty boxes of toilets and cabinets. Better their aprons than my clothes.

God, I hated that job! But I digress...

I am just blown away! I would have killed my mother for that.

Barista Brat (a Starbucks worker) has the same complaint...as well as mothers who call to say their little dollink didn't come in to open the store because it was too early!

What is the world coming to??!!

BTW, my now-adult kids had horrible jobs as teens ... which inspired 'em to finish college and graduate school. Lesson learned.

The problem with kids today? THEIR PARENTS.
(And yes, for anyone who is wondering... I am a parent - of a 20 & 23 yr. old.)

It infuriates me how these parents who let their kids act so horribly across the board THINK they are HELPING their children... by fighting their battles for them, handing them money left & right, buying them whatever they ask for as soon as they ask for it, etc.

Not teaching them to be responsible, respectful, kind & caring people is NOT helping them. They are not teaching them to be prepared for the REAL world. Instead they are setting themselves up to have spoiled brats who NEVER grow up.

And yes, in case you hadn't notivced, this is a bone of contention with me. lol.

Thanks for the oppty to vent!

BRAVO F.W. for not allowing this nonsense to continue... m-a-y-b-e the kid will learn something from YOU.

THe reason for the phone call is that the mother can't abide by any rules HERSELF and therefore can't fathom why anyone would apply them to her children.

She isn't a parent, she's an egg donor.

And we are being overrun with them and their offspring.

News Flash: They're not trailer trash anymore: they've moved up. They are now BoBos.

FYI, I started (in 1976!) at Sambo's Restaurant as a POT washer (I had to move UP to dishes). I wouldn't have worn my own clothes into work unless you paid me a LOT.

None of these people has any real respect for anyone nor any interest in anything but having their asses kissed.

And I'm 100% certain that the mother would have threatened to have the manager fired if SHE saw someone else's child snoking outside the kitchen.

Bah.

the acorn never falls far from the tree,,,,what do you bet that mom has had similarly 'bad' bosses?

At least you know he came by it honestly.

And I never did get all the gum off my nose after 5th grade LOL.

You have been tagged
:):)

I am a teenager and i wouldn't dare act like that. Some kids have no respect.

I can never come up with a good snappy comeback instantly either. I'm usually standing there with my mouth gaping, speechless at their audacity.

Anyway, I read this somewhere - "L'esprit de l'escalier" French for when you can't think of a snappy come back straight away.

The literal translation is "the wit of the staircase" meaning inspiration strikes when you're walking down the stairs to leave the party.

It's only been 6 years since I graduated from high school, and I often find myself having "kids these days" moments. Teenagers being teenagers is one thing (I think we all did a little of that) but their parents backing it up is quite another. I'm studying to be a high school teacher, and quite frankly, I'm more worried about dealing with the boneheaded parents than with their children.

Nana's got it right -- the problem with problem teenagers (problem children and problem toddlers for that matter) is their PARENTS.

Parents who refuse to set limits and boundaries for their children.

Parents who live and raise their kids with a sense of entitlement.

The parents who weave in and out of traffic, cutting you off because their time's *clearly* more valuable than anyone elses. The parents who can't understand why their screaming two year old is not welcome in a five star restaurant. They're all setting examples for the kids they're raising.

Congratulations. You offered the offspring of one such parent a valuable lesson. The world doesn't revolve around him. The sooner he absorbs that, the better off he'll be.

I just read the post by "Curious".....and as far as the "parents who weave in and out of traffic, cutting you off because their time's *clearly* more valuable than anyone elses"......usually they are driving a mini-van full of kids. Man....those minivan drivers....it's not an invincible silver bullet you know!

I just read curious's post, and I'm with him. I have a 10 month old and a 2 year old and I work in a nationwide steakhouse chain. I hate Chilis Applebees and Ruby Tuesdays but I go eat there because my kids don't really disturb the other people (they usually have kids too)

I teach school and I heartily agree that there are many, many parents who fight ALL their "babies" battles. Some colleges even have Deans of Parental Relations!!!!!!! The helicoper parents need to land!!!! the good news? all those great parents who back you up period.

I would be horrified if my kids grow up to be like that. Another thing to worry about...

HipWriterMama
http://hipwritermama.blogspot.com

I actually think being in the restaurant business keep you in better touch with what teenagers do, think and say...we're around them a lot more than some of their parents.

I started as a pot washer and worked my way up too...I'd have killed for them to provide me with more than an apron which got soaked...my clothes got distroyed.

I think had I gone home and told my parents why I got let go my mom would have grounded me, and really shown me what it was like to have a job...I think I would have been cleaning garages and yards for the entire block.

oh please....rules are rules and if one doesn't like them well one doesn't have to work there...it is all about choice...you can choose to do waht the job entails or not...and then you reap the consquesnces or rewards based on the actions you choose to do...

tho damn, I would have taken the phone and 'accidentally' slipped and dropped it into the dishwasher...waht sort of idiot uses that sort of equipment where it is more than likely going to get damaged?

his mother is the reason that there are so many EBs (entitled bitches) in the world today...

no one owes that kid anything just based on hnis existance,...the sooner he learns that, the better....I salute you starting his education

Unbelievable how some parents let their kids get away with such poor behavior and then demand it then they wonder sometimes, probably not this mom, why they get older and turn into such assholes. I know my brother-in-law is like that.

And some people wonder why those of us who teach middle school and high school lose our minds...not only can the kids drive you up the wall, but the parents will drive you over it!

Sounds like those apples didn't fall far from the tree.

Parents should be parents, not friends. Wait until life really kicks him in the ass.

Whenever I got those calls at my restaurant, I quickly and firmly cut the parent off by saying that I would be happy to discuss Johnny's employment (or loss of) with Johnny and Johnny only. I also made it a point to talk in interviews with kids who were getting their first job or were very young about their parents: were the parents on-board, did they understand the hours, what was their role in transportation, etc. The worst was when a very talented, conscientious hostess' mother called with two days notice to take her daughter out on vacation for two of the busiest weeks of the year. When told we would have to hire to replace her daughter and could not guarantee her job back, she threw a fit, until I asked her how long ago she had to request the time off from work for herself. She shut up, but took her daughter any way; hated to lose her.

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