I don't know what things irritate you as a parent- kids asking you to play "Tea Party" with them, or perhaps finding them reading under the covers with a flashlight, etc. For me, it's kids who think a bright idea is going to make them mad amounts of money.
Don't get me wrong. I love stories on the news about young kids raising money for (let's say) homeless people. Maybe they're collecting food, new socks, new and unwrapped gifts, etc. There are a lot of kind-hearted kids out there. I don't begrudge them at all. (I do wonder a bit if that was really their own idea, or their parent's? Call me cynical). My kids have never been those to want to give back. My daughter, Savannah, did once sell about $50 worth of pipe cleaner animals she made, but was ultimately only allowed to sell them if she gave the money to the school for the local low-income residents in our city. Kind gesture, though certainly not what she had in mind.
My son has had his own enterprising ideas- selling mint leaves, begging to have yard sales, setting up a website and YouTube channel with advertising (though he had no way to collect the money), and so much more. Other parents have thought (and said) "Oh, I think it's cute". Meanwhile, I've been over here like "WTF are you even thinking right now? Our little kids are pimping themselves on the internet to make a fast buck!". All my son wants to buy is video games. Or gaming systems. Now it's a computer. SMH. And in the age of instant gratification, if they don't or can't make that money ASAP, it's the end of the world!
Cue to last week, when my kids walk in the door after school, and Jack was asking Savannah if there was some kind of city ordinance about selling on school property. She was (of course) rolling her eyes, telling him he was stupid, etc. Meanwhile, I immediately was like "Oh good. How much more complicated is my life about to get??" It seems after Savannah told Jack that one of the clubs at school was going around selling chocolate bars as part of a fundraiser, Jack thought that sounded absolutely amazing! He wanted to know how he could get in on this action. I explained that no, you cannot just go around selling your stuff at school. Then he wanted to know if he could sell around the neighborhood. UH. WUT. (Just picture mom stomping her feet, and yelling "WHY??" as she collapses to the floor). No, son. Just. No.
A few weeks ago, Savannah (FINALLY) got her first job. So many reasons why this is a good thing. However, this means Jack is starting to realize (I'm sure he already did, to be honest) how pitiful his allowance is in comparison to her paychecks. He wants to know how he can make money, especially now that he wants a $500+ computer system. (You know, it turns out that if your child has a friend who builds his own computer, yours will want to do the same. ASD or no ASD, it's just how it is). So we kinda "had words". They more or less concluded with (him saying) "Just because you can't get money, doesn't mean I can't get some".
Okay, I honestly don't know WTF that even meant. Some jab at me for not having a "real" job? (Believe you me, buddy. The last 15 years have been a job!). Later he claims that's not what he said, but his "This is what I really said" didn't make it any better. We did sell a bunch of Wii games he no longer used, and he earned another $20 from his dad, mowing the lawn. He also got a late birthday card from a relative with $25 in it. So his dad started ordering some computer parts, and then I was able to get a good deal (as in FREE) on two computer towers missing only the motherboards. He still needs about $50 for memory, and I think that's about it. But he has to learn he can't get what he wants immediately. He also needs to back off with the money-making schemes. I'm not good with hairbraned ideas that I have to then facilitate. Or curtail.
Oh, and no. I don't do tea parties either. (Okay. Maybe there were a few. Doesn't mean I enjoyed them, though!)
Don't get me wrong. I love stories on the news about young kids raising money for (let's say) homeless people. Maybe they're collecting food, new socks, new and unwrapped gifts, etc. There are a lot of kind-hearted kids out there. I don't begrudge them at all. (I do wonder a bit if that was really their own idea, or their parent's? Call me cynical). My kids have never been those to want to give back. My daughter, Savannah, did once sell about $50 worth of pipe cleaner animals she made, but was ultimately only allowed to sell them if she gave the money to the school for the local low-income residents in our city. Kind gesture, though certainly not what she had in mind.
My son has had his own enterprising ideas- selling mint leaves, begging to have yard sales, setting up a website and YouTube channel with advertising (though he had no way to collect the money), and so much more. Other parents have thought (and said) "Oh, I think it's cute". Meanwhile, I've been over here like "WTF are you even thinking right now? Our little kids are pimping themselves on the internet to make a fast buck!". All my son wants to buy is video games. Or gaming systems. Now it's a computer. SMH. And in the age of instant gratification, if they don't or can't make that money ASAP, it's the end of the world!
Cue to last week, when my kids walk in the door after school, and Jack was asking Savannah if there was some kind of city ordinance about selling on school property. She was (of course) rolling her eyes, telling him he was stupid, etc. Meanwhile, I immediately was like "Oh good. How much more complicated is my life about to get??" It seems after Savannah told Jack that one of the clubs at school was going around selling chocolate bars as part of a fundraiser, Jack thought that sounded absolutely amazing! He wanted to know how he could get in on this action. I explained that no, you cannot just go around selling your stuff at school. Then he wanted to know if he could sell around the neighborhood. UH. WUT. (Just picture mom stomping her feet, and yelling "WHY??" as she collapses to the floor). No, son. Just. No.
A few weeks ago, Savannah (FINALLY) got her first job. So many reasons why this is a good thing. However, this means Jack is starting to realize (I'm sure he already did, to be honest) how pitiful his allowance is in comparison to her paychecks. He wants to know how he can make money, especially now that he wants a $500+ computer system. (You know, it turns out that if your child has a friend who builds his own computer, yours will want to do the same. ASD or no ASD, it's just how it is). So we kinda "had words". They more or less concluded with (him saying) "Just because you can't get money, doesn't mean I can't get some".
Okay, I honestly don't know WTF that even meant. Some jab at me for not having a "real" job? (Believe you me, buddy. The last 15 years have been a job!). Later he claims that's not what he said, but his "This is what I really said" didn't make it any better. We did sell a bunch of Wii games he no longer used, and he earned another $20 from his dad, mowing the lawn. He also got a late birthday card from a relative with $25 in it. So his dad started ordering some computer parts, and then I was able to get a good deal (as in FREE) on two computer towers missing only the motherboards. He still needs about $50 for memory, and I think that's about it. But he has to learn he can't get what he wants immediately. He also needs to back off with the money-making schemes. I'm not good with hairbraned ideas that I have to then facilitate. Or curtail.
Oh, and no. I don't do tea parties either. (Okay. Maybe there were a few. Doesn't mean I enjoyed them, though!)
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