Work It Out...

We had some work to do this week.

For real:  Our little entrepreneurs had orders to fulfill for family, neighbors and friends.

Know why?  I'll tell you why.  This mama of little man folk was kind of having a panic attack about raising upstanding citizens.  You know, Ryan and I work hard to provide a nice childhood for our kids.  Even a "comfortable life".  But the truth is, a good portion of life is just WORK:  dirty, grimy, unpleasant, "just do the damn job until it's done because it needs to get done"... work.  Isn't it?  Much of my life is comprised of doing things I don't really feel like doing; but I do them anyway.  Oh, yours too?  Thought so.

Well, Ryan and I are realizing that sometimes kids need this hard work.  Against every shred of their desires they need to be made uncomfortable and get ticked and not want to do it but know that people are depending on them and DO THE WORK ANYWAY.

At least we think they do?

SO, in our quest to ask our kiddos what can they contribute instead of what they can "get or take", with a side lesson on money management and saving for a rainy day, we present to you, the building of the "Gardner Guys Cooler Sticks".

They are PVC pipes filled with a salt water solution and sealed to be frozen and used in your coolers to keep perishables cold without the mess of melted ice.  Home made ice packs at their finest.  Hand made with love and a little frustration and thirty of the most adorable tiny fingers that ever did slave away.

Want one?  They're still taking orders.  Much to their chagrin.  And they make them out in the sun with me and they get flushed cheeks and sweaty necks and then they polish them up and hand deliver them.

You know what I think I saw when they delivered their first batch to their customers?

Pride.

And that's a lesson all on it's own.  Hard work and grit feels good and looks fantastic on 'em, you know?

As do Super Hero costumes, but alas, we digress.

Now if only someone could promise me that all this panic, followed by action, followed by pride would equate to a trio of upstanding citizens?  Anyone?

Fine then - just cross your fingers and send us your best juju, eh?

Much obliged.  

And thanks to our family and friends that are supporting these cool little business dudes.  :)