Is it a bad idea to get involved in working with my boyfriend's family business?

[vikingship09]

My boyfriend and his mom have offered me a job for the summer, working in the family business. They work BBQ stands at the state fair. It pays really well and it means that I would get to actually see my boyfriend this summer. Good or bad idea? Here is some background. This is what I'm struggling to decide with.

During the school year my boyfriend works with the college football team. He is also a full time student, so once late August comes around we only get Friday nights to see each other (sometimes not even that). It gets hectic.

During the summer, he works. He leaves in two weeks for the fair which is eight hours away. Not within visit on the weekends driving distance. It is the only money that he makes during the year so he works 7 days a week (he volunteers for the football team to get experience). So I won't see him during the summer and as soon as he gets back football starts up.

So my problem is weighing the pros and cons of going with him to work with his family...

PROS:

I get to be with him over the summer and at least see him.

Make great pay ($2,000+ for eight weeks) which I need

Get to be some place else for the summer

Get to see where my boyfriend grew up

Working in the back with the book keeping/scheduling (with my boyfriend) and sometimes do register

CONS:

If I don't take the job, then I have no job this summer.

Working with his mom

(she tends to hold grudges, she didn't talk to her daughter for 5 years and it was just recently with a death in the family that the daughter was the bigger person and they made up). I've also noticed a very controlling attitude towards her daughter. In a business I would understand this though.

I don't want to mess up and then ruin the relationship between me and his mom.

So...is it a good or bad idea to get involved in the family business? What would you do?

[MrOracle]

This is the type of low-level job that it wouldn't hurt you much if things got bad and you quit or got fired. His mom might be difficult, but if so, he'll know that about her already.

I think you should go for it, but make sure you work hard, don't let your Boyfriend distract you, and make a good impression if you can (some mom's might not let you). If you can win over mom, plus get some cash and see your boyfriend a lot, then you're the big winner. And even the worst case isn't so bad.

[Hartmut]

You say you don't want to mess up the relationship between you and his mother, but the flip side of that coin is that this'd seem like a good opportunity to get into good graces with her. Besides, your pros list does seem to outweigh your cons, at least in terms of length.

What some people would do would be to flip a coin for either option, and gauge how you feel based on the outcome.

[HoneySummer]

this

[AlWoodson]

I say go for it. In the very least it will be an experience. And, you would also see how the family that you could possibly be getting into one day works. It may or may not work out for you, but at least you gave it a shot. You should also try to hold yourself above all of the pettiness and crap that goes on within a family. Just take it in stride and try not to let it bother you. Sometimes other persons will just try to get to you for whatever reason. Be better than that and take it as a learning experience.