[Waterluvian]

When I was 13 I had a paper route. It was almost all modern except three or four households that still used the collection model. The paper company would take their subscriptions out of my pay and send me to collect and keep it and any tips. I decided it was easier to just take the pay cut than knock on those doors.

The whole concept still makes me intensely anxious and I would sooner quit a job than begin dealing with customers directly.

But I'm hella good at my job and I'm quite comfortable not being that kind of person. As you said it's not for everyone.

[DoofusOfDeath]

Glad to know I'm not the only one. I had to give up my paper route (mid 1980s) because I was too shy to collect. I could get up at 5:30 a.m. every day and spend an hour biking hard to deliver the papers rain or shine, but I collections freaked me out, even though all my customers were nice people.

The crazy thing is that it never occurred to me to discuss this with my parents, nor (AFAIK) did they ever consider having me see a counselor. I just kept on carrying a private shame about my cowardice.

I really hope that parents are better these days about noticing when kids are privately suffering with various neurological / psychological issues, and that more resources are available for helping.

[Waterluvian]

My anxieties have made me super sensitive to those of my kids. I am careful not to project onto them. I'm also always paying close attention to discover any moments of "you just need someone to notice you're struggling."

[DoofusOfDeath]

Same. Sorry you're in the same boat, but it's nice to hear that it's not just me :/

[neckardt]

What is the collection model?

[inetsee]

The collection model is that the person delivering the newspapers has to knock on doors and ask the subscribers to pay for the subscription. This is in contrast to the subscription model where the subscribers pay the newspaper publisher, which pays the person delivering the newspapers.