Proud of My Twins

A few years ago, when Kaleb & Keegan were only 9 or 10 they decided to form their own partnership business!  Minnie and I had settled into a Sunday afternoon nap with our little ones.  We had moved into our duplex out of our apt.  But we did not own a lawnmower-we would borrow the neighbor’s and buy gas.  So while we were sleeping Kaleb & Keegan borrowed the mower and started their own afternoon business! 

When we awoke they had made some money, the lawns were trimmed and there was even weed whacking going on!  We do not own a weed whacker either-they had borrowed that too-it took both of them to use the heavy gas-powered trimmer-but they got the jobs done! They were inspired, motivated and self-sufficient.

I have been trying to get them to do the same every summer since-to start their own lawn care business.  A few weeks ago Keegan confided that he did not know what to charge.  So I asked him how much he wanted to make an hour and how many lawns could he and his brother finish in an hour?  I explained that I make about $10/hour at my part-time job-that if he wanted the same and mowed 2 lawns in an hour that he should charge $5.00/yard.  If he and his brother both wanted $10/hour then they should charge $10/yard.

Motivation is key with teens!  Last weekend they wanted a video game, they rolled out our 2 lawnmowers (one was free off of freecycle.org) and canvassed the neighborhood. They came home asking for a ride to Wal-Mart to buy their game!  They not only met their goal and purchased their game, but they also made a couple of regular customers!

I have to say that makes me very proud!  I want them to be creative.  To think outside the box.  To be self-sufficient.  To think of ways to make money on their own.  I don’t want them to have to rely on anyone-not me, not mom, not the government, etc.!  I also want them to learn how to do business!  How to run a business, to count costs, to interact with people, to be fair, to be responsible, to help others, to be independent, etc.  Heck they have even biked up to Wal-Mart on their own.  They are really growing up!  Much too fast.

Later in the evening I asked them if they wanted to step it up a bit and order free business cards from VistaPrint.com.  They did!  And they even ordered cheap t-shirts that had a matching logo and info.

The Twins
Twins for the Price of One
Lawn Care Enthusiasts

Vistaprint.com is a pretty cool site.  They are known for their free (just pay for shipping) business cards; color, on card stock and with their logo on the back.  A few bucks more to remove the logo on the back.  They had lots of other matching stuff such as hats, stationary, post-it notes, return labels and even a cheap but simple matching website for $5/month!  Next time I think we plan to spend just a few more bucks and get a frequent customer print on the back of the card-buy 10 mowings and get a free snow removal free!  Thank goodness we have a snow blower!  250 business cards and 2 t-shirts shipped for under $20!  Not bad!  So they will feel legit, look professional and be more inspired! 

Way to go guys.  I love you guys and am proud of you.  Now go make daddy some money!

-Dad-

Remembering Memorial Day

The topic for the Friday KMBZ Shanin & Parks Show focused on Memorial Day.  They were asking if Americans just thought of it as a holiday away from work and a time to relax and have fun, grill out and camp or if Americans really took time out to remember.  I called in and was the first caller on the subject.

I explained that I was just another person who took a holiday off and didn’t think too much about the meaning.  But that changed on Memorial Day 2005.  I was camping with my family in the back yard of a friend’s house when my father called.  He told me he was on his way to my house and that he should be in town later in the week.  We were all looking very forward to spending time together.  Later that evening I received a phone call from my aunt-she was traveling with my father, they were both recent retirees.  My father was feeling ill and laid down and never awoke.  He had a heart attack.  My father’s passing changed my personal outlook of Memorial Day.  I also went on to explain how blogging has been a great emotional outlet for me; I have blogged about my father’s passing and also about losing a set of fraternal twins to a miscarriage.

They (Shanin & Parks) were very kind to let me go first and let me speak without interruption.  It was a good call.

So on Memorial Day I take time out to remember.  To remember my father most of all.  But to remember those that have passed away-not just military veterans, but friend, family, etc.

I hope your Memorial Day was relaxing, but I also hope you spent time reflecting.

-Derin-

Name Fail

My friend wants to name her child: Gage Iley-Joseph. Or, get ready, G.I. Joe. And she is completely serious.