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So, I wasn’t going to blog about Jake and Abby’s little drink stand but I can’t stop thinking about it. It’s in the front of my mind because I am trying to wrap my head around a comment turned conversation that a man had with the kids and I.
First things first. We had a neighborhood garage sale this weekend and with the crazy warm weather it was so so busy! After I picked Jake up from preschool on Friday we ran to Target and he picked out several types of drinks that he wanted to sell. And he wanted to offer fruit too! So we grabbed all of that and went and bought ice. I helped him with a sign and he was so excited to make some money. He worked hard setting it up and manned it all afternoon letting Abby join him when she got off the bus at 4pm.
On Saturday they woke up bright and early to ice things up and man their stand. Grandma and Grandpa even came to sit out there with them. Abby pulled out about 12 Lalaloopys to sell. That about broke my heart to watch but she wanted to earn money to buy a new one and it was fun watching her pride when she sold them.
All was sunshine and rainbows on Saturday morning.
Until his man walked up and looked at the drink sign (drinks $1, fruit 75cents) and my beaming 5 year old and asked “Where is the money going?” My first thought is umm there is no money. I paid like $75 or this stuff and he has sold like 20 things dude. I kind of laughed it off. He kept going. “Who does it go to?” I answered with “to that sweet little boy.” He replied, “there are kids down the street who are donating all of the money they make to the new park.” I said “yes, that is great! I have been telling people to grab donuts down there.” He came back with “you should consider that. Every bit helps.” in an almost condescending tone. I let him know that we actually give back quite often with both our time and money on a local and global basis and this is simply him learning to make a little money for a toy, a book or whatever he chooses to spend it on. And he basically waved, turned around and walked down to the next house.
It left me baffled. I have to say that this is in no way a dig at our fabulous friends down the street raising money for the new park. We love them, their fundraising efforts and are excited about the park! I am just a little put off about how this man approached us. What is wrong with letting the child learn a little about good old fashioned entrepreneurship? Why make them feel like they are obligated to give away what they earn? We teach them a lot about giving back and it is important to us but also want them to enjoy the fruits of their labor and ideas. It really made me uncomfortable. It almost felt like it was some parable in politics (trump style vs sanders style) and the funny thing is that I actually voted for the latter.
I don’t even know the moral of this story. It was just a really weird experience that was left at the forefront of my mind for days.
