Kindergarten Advice: How to Succeed in Business (without really trying)

Yeah, yeah, I know: it's been awhile since we've chatted.  I've really been quite the slacker with the ol' blog these days.  I could tell you it's because I've been out enjoying the unseasonably nice weather we've had around here.  I could tell you it's because I've been busy cooking and baking and prepping for a huge Thanksgiving feast.  I could tell you it's because I've spent the last 6 weeks preparing, cleaning, moving, cleaning, touching-up, cleaning, staging, cleaning, re-organizing and cleaning our house before we put it on the market.  I could tell you that between parent/teacher conferences, gymnastics, soccer, hockey, birthday parties, and a newfound love for racquetball (yeah, I know), I just haven't had a whole lotta extra time on my hands to blog!  Or, I could tell you what is probably the most truthful:  that I haven't really had anything all that interesting to say lately!  Ha! But I'm back, at least for now, because I just had to tell you about...

HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS
(WITHOUT REALLY TRYING)

A few days ago, Asha asked us if we could go to Disneyland.  It's a common occurrence, her asking this question, so we didn't give much thought to it and just gave our standard "no" response.  But the child was feeling particularly persistant that day and kept digging for more.

"Why CAN'T we go?"

"Because, we just can't."

"Well why not?"

"Because I said so!"

"THAT'S NOT A REAL REASON!"  (that one sure came back to bite me...)

She had me there. So I brought in the Truth Teller, (aka The Dream Crusher): Daddy.

"Asha, we can't go to Disney because we just haven't saved up enough money to take a trip like that right now." 

"Well you guys have lots of money, I saw a whole bunch in Mom's purse!  Let's use that to go on our trip!" She was referring to the approximately $7 + change that I had that particular day.

At this point we decided to make this a lesson in hard work and penny pinching.  Mistake?  Probably.  This kid outsmarts the both of us on a regular basis and we tend to make poor parenting decisions...

"Oh, honey, we really would love to take you there, we just can't right now.  Ok?  Maybe in a couple years when Noah is bigger we'll all go. That way we will have time to work hard and save up our money so we can do everything there that we want to do."

She wasn't convinced.  "But I wanna goooo nooooowwwww!  Can't you guys just go and work harder and make some more money at your jobs?"

Mommy inserts wisecrack, "Well, can't YOU just go GET a job?"  Jordan shoots me a 'you're not helping' glare... 

"No Mom, I'm five, I can't even drive yet and you won't even let me walk to daycare. Why don't you just go tell your bosses to give you more money and then we can go to Disneyland?!"

Well, durr. Sounds perfectly reasonable!  Why the hell didn't I think of that before?  But then Jordan, guy-who-never-lets-sleeping-dogs-lie, keeps on with our little life lesson.

"It's not that easy, Asha.  It's very important to work hard and do your best, but sometimes that doesn't mean you'll get more money".  (I must admit I sortof tuned out at this point, right about when he started in on the money-isn't-everything lecture. The guy can be a real bummer sometimes...)

But just when we thought she was about to concede, Asha responded with a frighteningly well thought-out argument as to why we should just get off our (apparently) lazy butts and get to the moneymakin' so she can meet up with Mickey & Minnie before she hits the ripe old age of 7 and all the magic is over.  And yes.  Yes, she did use the word "magic".  *sigh*

Ever had those parenting situations where you know you ABSOLUTELY MUST NOT LAUGH at your child in this moment, but every muscle on your face is twitching from trying not to erupt into giggles and it is taking every ounce of self control not to look your spouse in the eye cuz you know you'll lose it?  Yup, that happened.

So I had her restate her points on camera just so we wouldn't forget.  As if we would.  It probably wasn't quite as poignant the second time around (and of course she had to do one take with sparkly hat, one without, and restage her background for better lighting.)  If this girl ain't the product of the Debate Coach and the Theater Queen...

But really, the kid makes a whole lot of sense, doesn't she?