The German family on Wife Swap

[_queenie_]

Did anyone watch Wife Swap last night? Not in anyway did the other family have it all together, but I found it really odd that the people who owned the German inn (my in-laws stayed there, they did like it) had the kids working in the restaurant. They were very good, I'm not one who objects to high schoolers working if they want to, but I just don't think it's right for a 15-year-old to be waitressing. It's a Bavarian restaurant, which obviously means that they serve a lot of beer. I at least hope the kids don't bring it to the tables themselves, someone could walk in there for an inspection and see them with alcohol in their hands! Don't most people hire adults (or whomever's old enough for the position) to work for them, DH and I are small business owners ourselves, and I don't think the idea sounds that foreign. I'm not sure if they had help there, they do so much editing, but even if that is the case, they need some more!

It was almost like child labor, they reminded me a little of the Duggars where the kids don't know any better!

 

[bumbershoot]

Many people who own small businesses have their kids helping out. I believe that labor laws generally have an allowance for that sort of thing, too, but I could be wrong.

I think that states vary on who can carry what to a table, but from my experience sometimes you'll have a situation where someone else carries one thing while the others carry the food. Might be age-based or just what part of the place you're working in (I worked in the kitchen of a pub, and we couldn't bring beers to customers, had to get the barmaid or direct the customer to the bar to get their own).

 

[_queenie_]

I live in NH also, and as far as I know, they don't allow it.

 

[mommytobug]

I watched it. You have to remember this is TV. I have friends who say their neighbors were on it and they refilmed and redid and took some shots in other yards. So, I am sure they work (I chose to work that young so I have no problem with it) and I am sure it was exaggerated. The other family really disturbed me (again I know it is TV) but to allow your child to curse, fight, and go to school every day when he wants to is unacceptable. I do think the child has mental health issues, even if it is a defiance issue. He needs help. Is training school the answer? I dont know but what I do know is those parents are creating monsters. If I had spoken to an adult in that way, I would not have seen the light of day for a while.

 

[Madisonsmom926]

My dad has 2 restaurants in PA, and the laws for employing your children are different. I started working for him when I was 13!!

 

[Mom2JPL]

My parents bought a restaurant/bar when I was 5 (bro was 7, sis was 1) and we all worked in it when we were "old enough", bro was 9/10 when he lugged beer cases from basement and stocked cooler, sis and I were both 9/10 when we started running the dishwasher/washing pots, then we hosted, helped cook as we got older - didn't get weekends off unless we planned it far in advance (got to go to proms, school dances if it was known about before hand and had to get someone to work for us) - made us have a very strong work ethic! I have to say, though, we didn't know if there were ever any problems/worries like this family brought upon their kids (which I did think was wrong for those parents to do).

 

[eeyoremum]

My parents bought a restaurant/bar when I was 5 (bro was 7, sis was 1) and we all worked in it when we were "old enough", bro was 9/10 when he lugged beer cases from basement and stocked cooler, sis and I were both 9/10 when we started running the dishwasher/washing pots, then we hosted, helped cook as we got older - didn't get weekends off unless we planned it far in advance (got to go to proms, school dances if it was known about before hand and had to get someone to work for us) - made us have a very strong work ethic! I have to say, though, we didn't know if there were ever any problems/worries like this family brought upon their kids (which I did think was wrong for those parents to do).

Same here. We always owned a family restraunt and I too worked. We learned everything about the business and did it all. When I was younger I would not serve drinks. It is illegal here in Canada unless you are 19. I did help serve food though.

I often feel that my kids are missing out on some fun times not having the experience I did. My dad did run a B&B and my DSs loved helping out. He is retired now and my kids really miss it.