Lessons, never to early to learn.

There are a few lessons we are going to teach the boys after our holiday break. Lesson's we've slowly started to mention already. It started with "I'm starving!" This was one of the things that irked my mother. Her response was always "Liza, you don't know what it's like to starve!" "I'll show you starve!" And she did. The next time we crossed the border to Mexico so daddy could cut his hair and she could buy some vanilla. She pointed to the children begging for tacos and coins I was young but I got the message. Did I quit saying that I was starving? No but I caught myself a bit more during the process, until finally I quit saying it. We'll the boys have started with their mom's ol' nasty habit of "I'm STARVING!" Of course I don't live near Mexico to prove a point so I just stop and repeat what mom said to me and hope it sinks in!

Well we want to teach the boys the importance of giving and the importance of earning a honest buck!

How are we doing this?

Well Z's class adopted a Salvation Army Angel. His teacher is going to have the class shop for the Angels gifts on line as a group then she will purchase what the child needs and wants. All he asked for was a warm coat and a toy car.  Fortunately the boys have a Remote controlled car we bought a while back and well since they all ran on the same frequency it was hard for them to play together. So it's been up in their closet, unopened, brand new and waiting for someone.

I thought of just pulling it out and taking it to the school knowing they'd never miss it. But then I thought NO! I will sit them down explain about giving and have them give the teacher the car themselves. So they can know that gift of giving.

Now comes the honest buck part! It's more on working for what they broke! For days they've been playing with the dogs pooper scooper...yes the pooper scooper. They take the handle end (clean end) and open and close it chasing Nina around the yard, of course she acts silly, barking and running. They giggle til the cows come home and we scold them telling them they are going to break it! Well, Well, Well. Guess what I found broken while hanging sheets outside???Yup a broken scooper AND they broke my 4 year old giant stick that I found and use to hold up my clothes line when the clothes are too heavy! Stinkers!

So they will work to earn money and march their bottoms to Target and buy a new scooper! Yup! They are going to work in the yard filling holes. Nina has done quite a job digging up the yard and the boys are going to fill them all up with soil. When they are done I will pay them for their work. Then later take them to the store with cash in hand and have them buy a scooper. Maybe next time they'll think twice before disobeying us. Or maybe they'll want to work in the yard more for money?? HEY! It could happen!