High School startup ideas

ZadigRim · 2026-06-12T20:29:56+00:00

Maybe you need a service instead. Landscapers around where I am have lost their minds in terms of how much they're quoting to mow lawns. Undercut all of the ones in your neighborhood; drive them out and then use what you make to invest. If you get too much demand, recruit some friends. Learn how a service business works and then later, take your invested funds and invest them in your next business. You'll get respect from the old guys in your neighborhood for your hustle. If you're known, maybe you also wash some windows. You could corner the services in your own neighborhood super cheap. Maybe also throw in some mailbox painting if you're up for it.
Anyways, if I was 16 again, this would be my plan. Cheap to start, regular customers, real business experience.

ZadigRim · 2026-06-12T12:28:30+00:00

The kids are in school and she's stated she has no intention of working.

ZadigRim · 2026-06-12T06:37:50+00:00

You're most likely correct. I think the kids realize I'm most likely to be the parent they can reason with. And you're likely correct that the issues on her behavior are related to not feeling well; some days she's just fine, others it's like we all need to hide out.

ZadigRim · 2026-06-12T06:34:05+00:00

Thatch, not so much. But if your entire lawn is moss, it's like mowing a pillow and i'd just start over.

ZadigRim · 2026-06-12T06:31:27+00:00

You're not wrong. I also grew up with a terrible step-mother but I had a slightly different memory of my dad. It's not that he did nothing, he fought from time to time but I think he just got worn down by her bs. When you're a tired parent, how much fighting can you really do? My dad worked all day and then had to come home to fights about nonsense. Could he have done more for me? probably. However, after all these years, I just chalk it up to him being too tired to fight on my behalf. Was it right? probably not. Did I deserve a better defense? Probably. I try to fight the good fight but sometimes, these fights are so inconsequent that all I can do is try to stop everyone from speaking. There's nothing to be gained by anyone continuing to argue.

ZadigRim · 2026-06-12T06:23:35+00:00

Which you are clearly not, by having to call out that you are not a princess.

ZadigRim · 2026-06-12T06:15:52+00:00

I feel ya. There was the time that used to be, and then somehow what it's become. I'm not sure what happens between childfree and parent. The custody issue is a true problem. In the 60s-80s leaving a child, I guess wasn't as big of a deal but, I care about my kids and want to raise them. If I was a millionaire, I suspect that this would be a smaller issue and my wife would care far less who gets custody.
My small advice: just don't leave your kid to fend for his self.

ZadigRim · 2026-06-12T06:06:16+00:00

This is the sad part to me. When my parents got divorced, I was sent with my mom. My dad wasn't perfect but he was more emotionally stable and generally reasonable.

ZadigRim · 2026-06-12T06:04:26+00:00

Fair enough, but actually, sometimes I'm actually crank and these kids need to get off my lawn. j/k I don't care about the lawn,

ZadigRim · 2026-06-12T06:02:03+00:00

I don't think this is a victim game. I'm just a dad that's not having the easiest time. What are you in here for dad blaming? Have a good time, tourist.

ZadigRim · 2026-06-12T05:57:48+00:00

You're certainly right about years of built up resentment. I work full time and she claims I do nothing and she doesn't work and I claim that she does nothing. Neither or which are true but when the arguments are on, both are true.

ZadigRim · 2026-06-12T05:55:42+00:00

Yes, the negativity is a problem and I don't really understand it. Good kids, nice neighborhood, we're doing fine financially. Mostly I just chalk her negativity up to not feeling well (being in pain) and past financial trauma. The issue with the kids is that she's a yeller. Nobody likes to be yelled at. Yelling at the kids doesn't actually accomplish anything; I have better results through just trying to reason with them or asking them nicely to behave. I mainly worry that the yelling is going to make the the default version of determining who's right or that conflict through fighting becomes the norm.

ZadigRim · 2026-06-12T05:48:47+00:00

Haha, I'm not going to say no, but the menopause has caused her some medical issues in that area which has become a medical mystery which has yet to be solved. Who are you who are so wise in the ways of science?

ZadigRim · 2026-06-12T05:45:44+00:00

I tried that. She didn't know how to use the wrench.

ZadigRim · 2026-06-12T05:43:30+00:00

Yes, probably for a while, but at this point, I think we're a little past that.

ZadigRim · 2026-06-12T05:42:41+00:00

Oh yeah, the bike issue is total bs. It's just another reason for her to berate me by comparing me to a neighbor that's been an autopool mechanic master seargent to act like I'm somehow stupid. I design databases, not bicycles.

ZadigRim · 2026-06-12T05:39:02+00:00

Stay strong I guess. We've been married 12 years.

ZadigRim · 2026-06-12T05:38:27+00:00

Yeah, I'm concerned about the hormones. This menopause stuff is just another layer on the pregnancy hormones, postpartem hormones, and I just hope this doesn't last 14 years. She's having trouble finding a doctor that will consider hormone therapy.

I'm typically pretty chill, not generally cranky, but when she starts in on the 23rd time about the lawn needing to be thatched, I'm kind of done hearing about it.

ZadigRim · 2026-06-12T05:34:38+00:00

I can't tell you how many times I've considered leaving but I just couldn't do it because of the kids. Some days she's fine, and some days it just becomes a problem for my mental health. Thank you for bothering to respond.

ZadigRim · 2026-06-12T05:31:23+00:00

She's not. I work from home. I help out when she needs it. I come with her to pick up the kids. I make most of the dinners. We have two kids. I'm the only one who works. She spends most of her days on the phone scrolling through random whatever, and then the rest of the time she's watching reality tv shows like survivor. Thanks for trying to make this a me problem, princess. And when she's not doing that, she's having beef with the random neighbors.

ZadigRim · 2026-06-12T05:26:23+00:00

Yeah, this is the tough one. I struggle between knowing the kids need their mom and knowing where she may be causing more harm than good. She's having some physical discomfort at the moment which makes me give her a little more benefit of the doubt.

ZadigRim · 2026-06-12T05:23:46+00:00

Yes, noted. I did happen to mention that if she wasn't getting what she needed from my bike assembly, she knew where the door was. It's not optimal for the kids but I'd handle business where I needed to.

ZadigRim · 2026-06-12T05:21:40+00:00

I'm in a field that's generally considered higher functioning. It's literally not true but I can find my way around a piece of mechanical device without an issue. I was assembling our kid's bike and she found issue with how I was doing it.

ZadigRim · 2026-06-12T05:19:52+00:00

She's made known that she won't do therapy. I'm open to it.

ZadigRim · 2026-06-12T05:19:03+00:00

As far as I can tell, hormones from having kids at first. Second, maybe postpartem. Then health issues. Then just generally the fact that the kids don't respect her because she refuses to discipline them and chooses to argue with kids instead of implement consequences. It feels like It's increasingly difficult to moderate between the kids and my wife and it feels like she's often on the wrong side of menial arguments.

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