R&S Cleaning Service

Samantha asked for a toy the other day. Pokemon cards, to be exact. The set she wants is about $15 and she wants two of them. She's been collecting them and playing with her friends at school. They seem kinda complicated to me, but harmless, so I indulge her little hobby. Thirty dollars, though, is more than I will go for an indulgence. So, I had an idea. James and I decided that if she wants something, she can earn it. We also know that if we gave her stuff to do around the house for money she would do it, but, be focused on the money. I then sent an e-mail to some of my friends telling them that my daughter was looking to earn money. I said, ya'll put her to work, and I will decide what she gets paid and I will pay her. Well, after three straight days of doing chores at other people's houses, she has earned twenty-five dollars. Even her sister, Rachel, spotted a good chance to make money and has gone to two of the three days of work, too. They have been scrubbing cabinets, vacuuming vans and sweeping garages, all pretty hard work in the heat of an Arkansas summer. The idea was that they learn the value of work, a dollar and pride in a job well done. That realization may not come right away, but, at least they have another twist on the old what-did-you-do-this-summer essay they will have to write when school begins again. Kids have so much to learn and we as their parents have some many ways to teach them. I hope they will learn something, by example, by the sweat of their brow and by the satisfaction that work brings.