Skip to main content

Busy-ness 101

Jake has become quite the 8 year old entrepreneur.  Or, possibly scam artist.  He received as a gift about a year ago a bookmark made from duct tape.

Utterly fascinated and impressed with this gift, Jake begged me to buy him some decorative duct tape so that he could make his own bookmarks.  This proposal seemed harmless enough, so I got him a couple rolls.

Not long ago, I found myself In sore need of a bookmark, so I turned to my highly creative son and asked him to make me one.  He says, "I guess I will make you one for free."  I responded, "I should certainly think so since I bought the tape!"  

He proceeds to inform me that he needed a notebook so he could take orders.  It would appear he has developed quite a following.  He also informed me that he was charging his friends "$5 in pass tickets" (a reward system for students who may then purchase prizes from something called a "pass cabinet".)

Part of me was proud of his capitalistic tendencies, as I am hopeful he will be in a position to keep me in the style to which I wish to grow accustomed sooner rather than later.  And, doing so in a legal and above-board manner is preferred (albeit on certain days, negotiable).  But, in a feeble attempt at good parenting, I did mention that maybe he should check with his teacher to see if his little business was allowed to operate, or should he secure a permit?

"Why would she care?" He questioned.  "It's just business?"

Having larger fish to fry, I decided to agree.

Well, turns out she did care.  He told me a few days later that she made him stop selling bookmarks for pass tickets.

Not to be deterred, the little angel tells me last night that he would be setting aside the thirty minutes prior to bedtime to make picture frames.  "Picture frames?  When did you start doing that?" I ask.  (Again, mother of the year keeps up with everything her child does, obviously.). "Oh, awhile ago.  I needed something new to sell."

So, the little entrepreneur has learned about diversification.  He's also learned to look for loopholes.  The teacher banned selling bookmarks, but obviously she has not addressed picture frames.  I go to check out his duct tape picture frames, and I see a piece of paper that reads "James: day off -Wednesday".  

" What's this?" I ask.  "Oh, I have people working for me.  They take the orders for me to fill.  I have to give them a day off sometimes."   Well, well.....so my son is now in management.  And may possibly be operating a sweatshop for 8 year olds.  I have one question-am I legally liable for the business dealings of an eight year old?

All I know is that as a source of start-up capital, I really hope that my investment pays off.  I don't know what they have in that pass cabinet, but I am hoping for a Ring-Pop or maybe some fluorescent shoelaces!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Doin' Cowboy Stuff

"Steer's out!" was the call El Hubbo got last Saturday.  We were outside on our back porch, enjoying our newly cleaned up space, when our friend and neighbor down the road called. He'd just gotten two steers the night before, and we'd gone to help him unload. "They are a bit bigger than I thought they were going to be," he said.  He'd planned to get a couple steers to feed out and then have butchered.  Usually that translates into a 300 - 500 lb calf, and you feed them out to about 1000 - 1300 lbs.  When we arrived, we were greeted by two solid black, 900+ lb steers who were not too happy with their current circumstances.   Mean would be an understatement.  They were in the trailer, but they eyed us with a "We're bigger and badder than you" look in their eyes.  El Hubbo and I looked at each other a bit surprised, and then we hopped out and got to work.  The trailer was backed up, the gates were opened and out they charged!  Around the h...
Post a Comment
Read more

A Simple Virtual Christmas Letter 2020

 I used to send out a Christmas card with usually funny pictures of my offspring and a Christmas letter.  A couple years ago, I noticed I received only a couple Christmas cards and I noticed how expensive my little project was, and I noticed how expensive Number One Son's braces were going to be, and I decided that the card and letter tradition had probably gone the way of others. and it was time to stop.  My holiday spirit died a little that day. And, then, a miracle.  It's 2020 and I have received a record number of Christmas cards!  Actual, in the mailbox, Christmas cards!  And, several virtual cards (which I still give points for as it takes time and planning.) My holiday spirit enjoyed that little boost.   So, as it is too late to assemble the actual card and letter,  here's the resurrected virtual annual report of the Martinez Clan: Number One Son has grown to the point he looks his mama in the eye.  He sidles up to her often to se...
Post a Comment
Read more

Travel Chaos

Travel seems to never be a smooth endeavor anymore. I was scheduled to leave for Nashville this past week, El Hubbo was headed for Borger, Tx, and the kids would be left to their own devices. Ok, not really. The kids would be packed off to their grandparents in Floydada. We'd arranged for Rocky to go to the kennel, Mab (the cat) and Soosie (the fish) really would be left to their own devices. See what I mean? This situation called for massive coordination similar to that of most covert military operations. The first sign that things were simply not going to go according to plan was Rocky. Having been kennel led the week before while we took a quick trip to Austin, he managed to get Kennel Cough. Despite having been vaccinated. Great. We could not now kennel him, do now what? El Hubbo begged his sister to come over and play nurse to Rocky. I wasn't sure that he was going to make that happen as my sister-in-law is not really much of an animal person, and is especial...
2 comments
Read more