Kids Mowing the Lawn?

I like to mow the lawn, but so does my husband and my 11 year old son, so we fight over it. (I would rather mow a lawn than vacuum any day!) Whoever gets to it first gets to do it. My husband uses the gas mower and I like to use the manual push mower. My son can't get the gas mower started on his own, so he also uses the manual, but he would probably prefer to use the gas mower.

My boys all started mowing the lawn at about 10 and so did my daughter. We are down to the last kid at home now. Looks like in about 5 years we will be doing it again.

Yup, my boys mow the lawn. They are 17 and 19 now. One of them showed me how to use the mower just in case. But I've never actually had to do the job myself. When they both move out, I'll either sell my house or tear up the lawn and put in xeriscaping!

I like mowing the lawn because it's 40 minutes of aerobic exercise when no one can reach me by phone! There's a sense of accomplishment, I often see neighbors driving by and waving, and I get to figure out which way to vary the mowing pattern so I don't leave wheel tracks. Sometimes that's enough of a challenge for the day!

I don't think mowing lawns is gender-specific. I think we are well past that division in society. I think people should do what they like (or do what the other person truly hates), and then families should divide up the rest. My husband does the laundry, at least half the dishes and grocery shopping, and is great at putting together the leftovers so stuff doesn't wind up as a science experiment in the back of the fridge. I've taken up about 75% of the grilling, and he did a whole lot of child care when our son was little.

My son mowed lawns and walked dogs for years, creating quite a little business. He took care of the homes of vacationing neighbors, watering plants and taking in mail/packages, feeding fish and birds and guinea pigs, emptying dehumidifiers, and so on. He created a business in which he had keys to about 12 houses in the neighborhood, and he learned to organize his accounts and do invoicing. He learned to schedule, and he learned to deal with a lot of adults in a business-like capacity. When the time came for college, he developed his "activity resume" showing great continuity and entrepreneurship with a "company" that endured for about 7 years. It was a job that did not require me to ferry him to a minimum wage job - which there were not so many of anyway.

I think, if your sister is not well or has a chronic pain condition, she should not mow the lawn. Otherwise, I don't understand what your objection is. If the 17 and 23 year old boys are doing NOTHING, that's a huge problem, but not because of the lawn specifically. My son was doing his own laundry at 15, and learning basic cooking from 13 on. Your nephews should be cleaning, cooking, loading the dishwasher, vacuuming and cleaning bathrooms and not locked into a seasonal chore that's done once a week. If they are helping on a daily basis, I don't see the problem. If they are doing nothing, the problem is much larger than the lawn!

My boys, ages 10 and 12, mow our lawn. And it's a big lawn. They've been mowing since they were big enough to push the mower. For the first year, I supervised. Not so much anymore. They do a good job. Kids need to do work to help out, regardless their gender. I mowed when I was their age too.

I'm not really sure why the little rant about your sister's boys. They clearly have a system that works for their family. No need to be "crazy" about it.

I mow the lawn. The husband has health issues, the kid's too young.

I personally really don't like the idea that men mow and women ... what? ... sew? I do an hour workout with free weights four days a week. The class is 100% women. Mowing the lawn is much, much easier than that.

That said, I do plan to "apprentice" my son in to this task, just the way he can now set and clear the table, make his bed, load up the dishwasher, etc. These are all just jobs that PEOPLE should know how to do.

My husband and I haven't mowed the lawn in years. That's what teenagers are for! Our 15 year olds (son and step-daughter) have been mowing the lawn since they were 11. My husband was quick to get my son (who lives here full-time) to mow but dragged his feet with his daughter. He said that it was because she didn't live her FT at the time that he didn't think she should have to mow but really, it was because he didn't want his little princess to have to work hard. He eventually got over that and now she pulls her weight around here too. They can both use the snow blower, shovel snow, weed whack, power wash, trim hedges, spread loam and mulch, till a garden, vacuum the pool, rake, weed, paint, stain, hook up a utility trailer and they helped resurface the driveway last year, in addition to mowing the lawn and doing their indoor chores. If parents don't teach their kids how to run a household inside and out, how will they know what to do when they're adults?

When I was growing up, we lived on a corner lot with a huge yard, thick grass and it was just my mom me and my younger sister.. We used to each do a portion.. In the summer with 100+ temperatures.. We tried to do as much in the morning as possible. I started mowing at about 11. My mom invested in a self propelled mower. It was still super heavy to push, but it was great exercise for all of us..

I think any one in the family that is able bodied should be able to do practically anything around the house..

Why does it drive you crazy that your sister chooses to mow the lawn. I love mowing the lawn, unfortunately my husband enjoys mowing it more so I don't get to. My kids always mowed the lawn if I didn't have time so no worries.

That is it though, no worries, why do you care what your sister does?

My mum mows my lawn.

Yep.

Gran.

Shoulder surgery + Fractured skull = R. was incompetent for about 18months.

My then 9yo WANTED to mow the lawn... But the lawn fairies would make the grass grow 50 feet tall during the weeks he was at his dad's (slight exaggeration)... And we'd have to take the weed hacker (or occasionally the hedge trimmer...NOT an exaggeration) to the lawn first.

And my Mum's weird.

She actually enjoys mowing.

Or so she says.

At this point... I run with it.

You want to mow my lawn? Sure! Have at.

Our kids are too young to do it but they certainly will and it won't be an option for them not to do just like any other chore. I'm surprised at the laziness of many teens on this. I hired a neighbor teen boy to do ours for $10/hr because my ex was gone all summer. He was excited and agreed to do it every other weekend. He did it like 1 1/2 times and one day I looked out and saw HIS MOM in my yard finishing up for him! I felt awful and ran out and she said he didn't feel like doing it.

AND SHE DIDN'T MAKE HIM!

He simply quit doing it and never even told me, he just let his mom tell me.

I don't get it.

My son, age 10, cuts our lawn. I also see lots of children his age around our neighborhood cutting the lawn. My husband will also do it some of the time, but he has been working so much lately so I just have my son do it.

Both of my boys cut grass with a push mower. However, they have never used a riding mower. I don't feel comfortable teaching them because it has been so many years and I don't remember how myself.

Sorry, but shame on your sister and her husband for not requiring their grown sons to do this. That's MORE then lame and teaches these boys a terrible lesson. She needs to put her foot down.

Mom:

I'm sorry that your husband had to have surgery. I hope he's on the road to recovery.

Our backyard is handled by our HOA landscaping company - we do have a small mower and both my boys know how to operate the mower - they are 11 and 13.

Your sister mows the lawn. It's great exercise. Has she ever complained about mowing the lawn? It might make YOU crazy. However, SHE might like it.

Hope that helps.

I don't have any lawn to speak of (cottage garden), but my sister told me that her 9 year old recently took over mowing duties from the disinterested 11 year old.

Just out of curiosity, because of the comment about your sister-- I know YOU have some back issues, but do you consider mowing the lawn as a more 'male' job? Does no one step up, or does she just not tell her sons--"Hey, part of living here is taking care of the chores, and this is a chore. Get out there and get to work!" I think I'd be less 'waiting for someone to step up' and more "dude, this is your task du jour. Now get moving."

My son, 9, helps with the lawn under supervision. We have a very large yard and we use a push mower and a riding mower. He knows how to operate both safely.

I LOVE mowing the lawn ~ it's great exercise, gets me out of housework (I'd rather do yard work any day!) and l love being outside. Maybe your sister feels the same.

The older kids were supposed to, and we even paid them...but they were slackers so we hired someone. We figured we'd pay a few bucks more for consistent service. We share a lawn service with the neighbor and they come every other week. I think that it's ridiculous but DH and I mowed the lawns ourselves for a while (the neighbor is housebound and we try to look out for her) and decided it was worth it to get a service for not much more than we paid the kids.

So your sister has the same choices - kick the "men" into gear, continue to mow it herself, or tell her household that she's hiring someone b/c she's tired of doing it.

And, frankly, sometimes mowing can be fun. Does she like it? My DH cooks because he likes to.

I think showing your DD is a good idea and try not to worry about your sister. She's a grown woman who can mow a lawn if that's what she wants.

Our son started at 10 with his own lawn mowing business. When we moved, he was 12 and had up to 8 houses he did a week. He and my husband went in 1/2 together and bought a riding lawn mower when he was 11.

My husband does it now since the kids have moved out. He likes it. Yuck!

My sisters and I used to help mow the lawn when we were younger and now my younger cousin (Who is almost 13) is starting to help a little bit. But it's one of the few jobs that my grandpa (Who is going to be 90 in two weeks) is still able to do and he feels that he has to do SOMETHING around the farm... So he mows the lawn.

My 8 and 10 year olds just took their first solo rides on the riding lawn mower last week. They LOVED it. In the future, when they can do it without his direction, it will allow him to get the yard work done much faster (he can weed wack and trim bushes while they mow).

I did it when I was younger and my parents had a riding mower as well, I LOVED it.

If we had a push mower, they'd be learning to do that too.

The 6 year old still rides with daddy though...he's not quite big enough to do it on his own.

ETA: Has your sister told you she doesn't want to do this? I have several friends who LOVE to mow the lawn. It's their "me" time. I tell my husband to not get any ideas, because I do not prefer any type of yard work, but plenty of people do.

Yes, teens still mow lawns. My children all learned how. Once in a while a kid will come by and ask if he or she can mow our lawn for money, although my husband always says no because he's particular about it.

I learned to mow lawns when I was a kid. I didn't mind the work. I did mind the mower. That nasty cord that you have to pull in order to start it! Once my dad went away for three weeks. I honestly planned to cut the yard every week. I couldn't get the thing started, and if I could, I couldn't keep the thing going. I remember going to our neighbors for help too many times! When my father came home, the grass was six inches high and I was crying about it as only a teenage girl can do. He laughed and went out and cut the thing.

I now declare myself as having an allergy to lawn mowers. Some people love the work, though. Does your sister like the job? Sometimes family members won't do a certain chore because "It's so-and-so's job and she's always done it."

If the lawn needs to be cut, you are physically able, someone should cut it, man or women. If your daughter is able, why not? This is teaching her independence, and not relying on anyone to do it for her. One day she will have her own yard to do! When my boys were at home, and younger, they cut or helped cut. I am single, work two jobs, and still cut the lawn (1/2 an acre) for years. Just the other day, while I was cutting the lawn, a lady came up to me and said "Don't you have a man to cut the lawn?" Nope I said; if I did I would still be the one cutting it!

Yep.
My husband does it (because he likes it) and every time he does, our son (who just turned 15) is expected to present himself outside to do part of it as well. He started out when he was about 10 under direct supervision. (Now, he just takes over and husband comes inside, or he is assigned a portion of the lawn and he goes and does it whenever during the day, so long as it is done at the end of the day).

Sounds like we have the same sort of mower you do. Our lawn is large enough that a riding mower would be "nice" but isn't quiiiiite "necessary." Much more than what we have we probably would get one. Most of our neighbors have ride-ons. But most of our neighbors that do, also don't have teen sons around.

I think most kids don't learn today because we (as parents) are expected to pretty much bubble wrap them from the time they exit the womb. It's hard to learn anything that way, though.

I LOVED mowing the lawn when I was a kid, but my dad was pretty selfish with the mower ;-) It was his Zen time, so I only got to do it when he had back pain, or if I could sneak in a cut before he got home from work.

I was mowing by the time I was 10, well before the days of safety cutoff bar.

Right now we have a lawn service because my kids are still very young, and hubby is never home before dark. I imagine I will start letting my son mow around age 12.

Your sister needs to get her "men" to get off their arses and do some work! I hope they at least help in other areas around the house, otherwise she's allowing them to become very disappointing husbands to their future wives!

ETA: Is this something with which your sister has expressed dissatisfaction?

Hi Cookingmom, I like your question! We had a lawn service take care of our yard until a few months ago when we bought a nice Honda mower and edger and my husband taught my 15 year old son how to use them. It's been great, because my son does a great job and takes a lot of pride in how the yard looks after he's done and it's actually helped his self-confidence! My son offered to teach me how to use the mower and I used one for the first time ever!! It was cute, when my son was teaching me, he said "We're going to have a 10 minute talk about safety first"!! Love him SO MUCH!!!

I do! I like to mow. Growing up it was just me and my mom and sis at home. I got used to mowing a Missouri acre (for those of you who don't get that -- it is a hill full of rocks and grass --lol).
But I grew up doing it. Started at 12. It was constructive, allowed me to contribute in a way my mom appreciated and it got me out of the house for a while.
My boys will mow, too. but nine feels a little young. I'll let him have another year or two:)

i think you had a great idea to teach your dd. Hubs showed my son 9 at the time to mow last year and you just gave me a good reminder that he is capable of helping out with this.

mowing is just my zone out time and I don't mind doing it and getting it done instead of waiting for hubs to do it and make a huge production out of it. 15 mins for the front and 15 for the back and i'm done!
plus a little exercise.

i'm pretty sure mine were about 9 or 10 when we started letting them use the riding mower, carefully supervised of course. they started off doing simple lines, while my dh did around the trees and bendy bits with the push mower.
in our house my dh usually does the lawn and i usually do the pastures. i try to do 'em all myself but can't always keep up, and my dh is very neat and from time to time HAS to do it because he can't stand to have the lines all wobblety the way i do it<G>. when the boys come home in the summer they often do the lawn for him. it's rare for someone else to do the pastures, which is fine. i like mowing.
:) khairete
S.

I do. I have a riding mower.

I have severe allergies so I have to hire someone. I don't mind doing it and would rather to save money but it's just not possible.

My 13 year old doesn't. He's willing, but my husband is really tall and the handle of our mower can't be lowered enough to make it safe for our short son to mow. Instead, he helps out by making use there are no rocks/sticks/toys in the grass, and runs the weed whacker along the edges.

My oldest is 12 1/2-ish. It was last year or so that he got to start mowing the lawn. The back isn't as easy so he does some of it and my husband does some of it. My son doesn't always do it but he does it often enough.
My 9 year old doesn't do it yet. He's on the small side and the lawn mower over powers him and is just too big for him. He helps with the broom and pulling weeds instead. The 4 year old tries to help but she can only do so much.

we mow with a tractor - usually with one of the kiddos on a lap. Both of us mow about evenly

I cut my own lawn because I have flower beds planted and my kids were too afraid of hurtng my flowers and I actually enjoy doing it. But my son's first job at 10 years old was cutting a lady's lawn. He used my mower because the lady didn't have one. She needed the help and we helped her. He earned $10 every time he mowed her lawn.

We have 1.25 acres and hubby chose for the lawn to be his 'job'. How mows 1-2x a week, weed eats and sprays for weeds.

We used local teenage boys for 6 years. My mother was very concerned about teens mowing the lawn, but the worst that ever happened was one stepped into a patch of poison ivy while trying to edge near the driveway.
I think mowing the lawn is no more dangerous for a teen than some of the jobs that parents push their kids to take in fast food or at amusement parks.

Are you kidding me. The ONLY thing around here that anyone besides me does is mow!! My 14 year old son does the places close to the house with the push mower, my hubby does the rest with the riding mower. My 11 year old son helps out some with the push mower but only when he's being supervised.

I have only mowed the lawn about 5 times in my life!!! It seems to me like the fellas get the good end of this one because we only mow for about 4 or 5 months a year, laundry etc. is every blessed day of every blessed month of every blessed year!!!

M

Usually my husband, my kids are too young. But if he's been traveling I will do it. If I had daughters I would absolutely teach them to mow the lawn.
My boys on the flip WILL learn to cook, do laundry, grocery shop etc. I think its great your daughters doing it!

We hire out for that because we don't have a place to keep a mower.

The one time I did mow the lawn showed me that it isn't the job for me. Especially I'm highly alergic to grass. LOL. I was a runny nosed, ichy eyed hot mess by the time that was done. I vowed never again.

My boys and husband would do it if we had a mower but we don't.

We have a very large yard that backs up to woods. Our yard is in 3 tiers with stone walls.

My hubby does all the yard work. He is very picky.

Years ago, when he was in an accident and couldn't manage the yard, I hired an outside company to come and do it until he was well enough to get back to it.

I do not and will not run a mower. I'll clean inside all day long but I will not do the yard work. I don't enjoy that. I never used a mower growing up either.

My husband or son does it, although I'm thinking of doing it when the weather cools off a little. Someone else will have to do the edging since I don't handle that very well.

When I hit 5th grade, I started mowing the lawn and using a little weedeater. When my little brother (4 years younger than I) turned 13, he took over because I was mostly out by then. (Until then, he used the blower and edger). Now: I do the mowing, but it's because I view it as exercise and kinda like it. I mean, I don't like it at the moment, but I like it afterwards, it makes me feel good. My husband does the edger, trimming hedges, weeding, etc though. Team work!
However, when he was out of town or laid up with back surgery, I did his chores too, or hired them out to a local landscaper. (I'll edge and trim the "easy" bushes, will hire out for the tree trimming and weeding because I hate those jobs).
My neighbor's son started mowing his lawn, and neighbors around that wanted to hire him, right after he started 6th grade. His dad would follow behind and do the edging.

Either hubby or SS. I don't do it.

13 is old enough for using any sort of push mower. I will say that they do need to wear protective gear. My friend was mowing her small back yard and a can lid was in the grass. It flipped up and hit her shin. It cut it to the bone. She had so many issues since it was an item that had been outside in the dirt. She had to do a round of antibiotics plus do new Tetanus shots.

I wouldn't let the kids use a riding lawnmower though. Sometimes the break and don't turn off when the seat is vacant. Then if someone is thrown off they can get run over by the mower. That's just sad.