First Job and First Play

The kids worked their first job . . . and boy, did they clean up! Chris and I are still working out what our parental money philosophy will be, but we think that we want children to do chores around the family because we're part of a family that works together, not because of an allowance. However, we are willing to let them earn money for doing chores above and beyond their normal duties. I needed help with weeding, which is hard for me to do while I'm feeling oogey. I thought that offering one cent per weed was too cheap, so I told the children I'd pay them a nickel per weed. Well, after Mary picked 60 weeds and John picked 100 in about half an hour, I realized that five cents per weed was too much, but I chose to stand by my word. I also realized that counting weeds is quite difficult, so how else could I measure them for payment? I don't think I could weigh them because of the other detritus that makes it into the bucket.

Mary drew a picture of "our new born baby!" Then later in the day she asked, "Did God send us our new baby?" I answered 'yes,' and she exclaimed, "God is the most loving father!"

Chris' parents arrived for a visit and, in the evening, Pop-Pops and I took John to his first real live play: an original script of "Pollyanna" produced and performed by homeschooling families at a local Baptist church. It was a very professional play for community theatre! John could not have been more enthralled as we sat in the second row. He was amazed at it all: the sets, the children actors, how they could memorize all their lines, how the lights went out, the stage hands changing sets, that refreshments were sold at intermission. It was truly a joy to my heart to see him so excited with something that has been a lifelong love of mine.

Unfortunately, it did not go so well back at home: I was being very brave and leaving behind 15-month-old Margaret so I could spend some alone time with my big boy. Apparently Margaret cried vociferously for almost the entire three and a half hours I was gone. She was a sorry sight when I got home and I felt terrible about it.