Tom Welch, Welch Bros, LLC, Woodland, Wash.: I don’t have a son but I do have two nephews that spent summers working on my tile jobs that are now both licensed full- service tile contractors. They were 14 or 15 when they first started and are now in their mid thirties. They started by just doing housekeeping and cleaning tools and buckets, buffing grout jobs, and just get- ting acquainted with construction in general by working around other tradesmen. I always made sure they got paid so they understood the value of working. I couldn’t be more proud of both of them and their accomplishments. Matthew Felton, Mattheworks. com, Milwaukee, Wis.: My den- tist was kind enough to give my stepdaughter free braces. She was 10. So when his bathroom proj- ect came up in the summer, you should have seen the look on his face when he came home to see her outside in his driveway by her- self making cuts for me. I obviously didn’t just throw her out there. She learned everything – especially safety wise – that she needed to know and was more capable than most hired help I hired after the same amount of training. Pay for your son? As much as you would pay for what you would get out of any other trainee with whatever skill level he per- forms at. But agree there should be a lesson in saving as well. Shaun Skeen, Home & Business Renovation Solutions, Okeechobee, Fla.: This is awe- some seeing the next generation. I will start my son next year when he turns 4. We all better watch out for DCF showing up at our doors for child labor laws, LOL. Seriously though, let him enjoy just being with his dad then slowly start working him. Trash clean up, get- ting buckets filled, pulling spacers, cleaning thinset out of joints etc. Dave Clark, Clark Flooring, LLC, Jackson, Miss.: All great responses. Thanks GTP! My kid makes great grades, just finished 6th grade with one B and the rest As. He likes to brag on being one of the smart kids and his achievements. I really just wanna spend time with him and teach him something that we know can be valuable. Kid saves all his money. I give him cash usually twice a year and he puts it wher- ever he puts it. He’s probably got more stashed away than I do. Lolz. Happy Tuesday, y’all! HOT TOPICS ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Matthew Felton’s stepdaughter Natalie helping on a waterjet mosaic, grinding off knobs where the mosaic broke off from the original stone tile. (In all other work she wore eye protection, Felton said). 56 TileLetter | June 2018