I'm a single mom and my son is turning 16 next month. We are really hurting right now since I don't get any child support (his dad keeps changing jobs) and I just make enough to pay bills and get food for us and gas in the car. I have NO extra for 'fun' things like movies, games, clothes. NONE. SO my parents have been SUPER helpful in getting my son things when he needs them (like school supplies and stuff). I pay them back when I can but sometimes it takes me a while. So now I told him when he turns 16 he can get a job on the weekends...then he can go with his freinds to moives, and buy video games or whatever he wants to do .
My mom says he should NOT have to get a job and he should focus on school. I agree. But in my situation...he has no other way of getting money. And even if I was made of money I don't know if parents should just hand their kids money for nothing, you know?
Funny she is forgetting all of us had to get jobs in high school to pay our car insurance and stuff like that. Guess my mom is forgetting that. :/

Really lots of kids get jobs, it teaches them the value of money. I'd just sit your mum down and calmly put your points forward. Tell her how this isn't the ideal but in your current situation this is best way for him to get to do all the fun teenage stuff. Let her know that he'll have no problem keeping up with school work and a job and lots of kids do and all the positives he'll gain and generally tell her what you told us. Just ask her for a few minuites of her time when she'll listen and not judge and then just talk to her and I'm sure she should be convinced. Best of luck!