child labor and team work

Taylor has been trying to save up for a new drum set. We've promised to pay for half if he could come up with the other half. I haven't a clue where we'll put a real drum set in our house. I've been trying to encourage Taylor to spend his money on donuts and soda pop and other frivolous items, so that his goal of $150 is never actually attained. Sounds a little conniving, I know. But until we're able to build a sound-proof drum room, I'm not sure I can be gung ho for a drum SET. The current drumming of the sticks on every surface in the house is enough to test me for now. However, if he does reach $150, we will honor our promise, he really loves the drums.

He came to us asking for a job to earn some dollars. It was great timing because last week our neighbors offered their landscaping bricks to us for free if we would just move them out of their yard. I've been wanting a garden for years now and thought this might be the motivation I needed to get started next season. These bricks are not the tiny building bricks, they're huge and heavy. We struck a fair deal and Taylor enlisted his cousin, Austin, to help with the labor and share in the wealth.

They spent a couple hours one evening and got about half way done. A cracked wheelbarrow and a couple headaches didn't even stop them. I almost felt bad as I watched them heave the heavy bricks into the wheelbarrow and struggle to get them re-stacked in our yard.

They resumed their work early the next morning. As luck would have it, the neighbor boy next door came along and offered his help. How embarrassing. J, the neighbor, is their same age, only like He-Man. He's taller than me and apparently has super human strength. The bricks that the boys had been struggling to lift together, he picked up on his own and walked over to our yard, sans wheelbarrow.

Taylor and Austin actually were NOT embarrassed at all. Rather, they were in jaw-dropping awe and thrilled to have their work done in half the time. Even better, J refused payment.

Good work boys! Go spend that cash!! {wink wink}