I took my daughter to a birthday party at one of those bouncy house places this past weekend. I always notice the staff at these events, and often make small talk with them about whether this job makes them think twice about parenting, but this time was a bit unusual; instead of the normal gaggle of teenage girls, the party was staffed entirely by guys: three big late-teenaged guys with pants hanging low, capturing flying pigtails and collisions on a digital camera for the birthday girl's parents and friends, muscling the party along like it was a birthday machine.I wonder: what must it be like for a teenage boy to initiate "Happy Birthday" singing again and again for hours on end, making a fuss over other people's kids, cleaning up their half-eaten pizza and cake, wiping up spilled juice and lemonade? (And yes, I know that for some teenage boys, this job is a perfect fit, but these guys didn't seem like they had a natural affiinity for four-year-olds.)
How many times in one day can you celebrate strangers' kids' birthdays before you start to go batshit crazy?
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LMAO. I know I wouldn't last long!
ReplyDeleteI guess it depends how badly you need the job. Also, do they get tips? Yeah, I'm glad I don't have to do that kind of thing for money. I did work one summer at Chuck E Cheese. It was oddly fun.
ReplyDeleteSo strange -- we also went to a bouncey place and it was all boys, too. Which didn't strike me as odd at the time, but now reading this, it made me wonder. I think you have different thresholds for different jobs at different points in life.
ReplyDeleteMy limit would be 1 time. But teenage boys are probably just as qualified and tolerant as teenaged girls - we're just not used to seeing them.
ReplyDeleteI give props to anyone who can last at a job like that for more than a day. I can't stand being a customer in one. :)
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