Show him the money

There are certain phrases I try not to use on my kid.  I've never said, ""Quit crying or I'll give you something to cry about.""  However, I'm not perfect and I have been known to say, "Because I said so."  Actually, by the time I say that I'm usually yelling, but I try not to use it very often.  I'd much rather he know that I say so for reasons and not think I'm jerking him around.  I swear I used to wonder what the old folks were thinking with some of the stuff we had to do.  I'm still not sure.

 

I've tried to teach my kid lessons in such a way that they stick with him for life and not just until he doesn't have to listen to me anymore.  He's been rather receptive so far.  I think I've driven home the concept of saving because things cost money.  I'll take him to the dollar show, but if he wants to see a new release at night, he's going to have to come up with part of the ticket price.  I've also taught him that you have to work for your money because no one is going to pay you for doing nothing no matter how cute you are.  He's fully grasped both concepts.  He'll cheerfully clean houses, rake yards, wash cars, mow lawns, paint fences or any other laborious task for anyone anytime….for a fee.  He'll negotiate a flat fee or hourly rate depending on the job and when an agreement is reached, he'll shake on it and get it done.  His work ethic makes me proud. 

 

Lots of people call my son "the businessman".  What can I say?  The boy is an entrepreneur—he loves to make tha dollas.   He saves his money, counts it and if he finds something that's really worth it, he'll spend it.  He's very particular about what he thinks is worth his spending money.  I don't blame him.  I'm working on incorporating a new lesson into the mix.  This weekend we helped Jason moved. (That man has an astounding amount of stuff)  My kid helped out and then started bargaining his fee.  I'm trying to get him to understand that sometimes you help friends out just because.  His response was, "I don't really know him that well."  Ok.  How about ""sometimes we help people because it's the right thing to do"".  My baby looked at me like he was trying to see my angle on it.  He said, "If you say so, I believe it."  I was content. "Plus he already gave me ten bucks."