Reality

Wednesday while delivering papers, Cars was especially mad at me. He wanted, and fully expected me to, get out and deliver with them. It was the worst of conditions, the worst kind of delivery day. It was blowing, cold, and slush everywhere. I usually do help them on bad days, but this day I was wearing heels and told Cars no. He got mad and snapped that I should have been prepared. I snapped. Then he tells me that he is sick of me sitting in the car, and taking most of their money. It was time for a little lesson! They get paid $.15 a paper. From the very beginning, they had to pay for gas expense, and stuffing expense ($.05 per paper). I have also picked up some driving routes that are seperate from their delivering, money which we use to donate as a family. We all talked about how to donate it, and the boys are very aware where my drive route money goes. When they saw the paycheck, all in my name, they were MAD at only getting about half. I told them that they could have it all (of their papers) and pay expenses themselves then. We figured up gas and figured that it cost them about $14 - $18 per delivery (which sucks but the gas is guzzled in a huge suv when you are stopping and going!) Then they had to stuff papers themselves after scouts and not do anything that night. Carter, my very smart well thought through kinda boy, is telling Cars to stop talking, because I was getting mad and they were losing money to the reality of lifes expences. For all that I do to help them, and then to be called a theif! NOT! Then I told them that taxes just cost me $300 since they are paid on a 1099 (and explained all that to them) and so they could each split that expence every month too, about $12 a month. They ended up with about half what they were getting. The whole time Carter was very intrigued by everything I was teaching them, in an angry voice, but was telling Cars how nice I am to drive them, and how wonderful a mom I am and on and on. Cars just kept throwing jabs. By the end, Carter told Cars that he is happy with his deal, and if Cars wants it different, he could do it on his own. It was pretty cute of Carter. He gets it! He gets business, even this young. By the end, it all worked out. I think Cars's brain gets frozen. He can't see past his own struggle at the time to see reality. I HATE delivering papers, but I wouldn't trade it for anything. My boys have learned so much! How many 8 year olds know the difference between a W-2 and a 1099, and why would they even care. My boys know all about a 1099, and why the expences for a company are different, and why they would want to be paid on a 1099 or a W-2 when they are older depending on their situation. I bet most adults don't even know that stuff! I love all of the life lessons they learn. I love the workers they are, and the way that I get to influence and mold them into amazing boys. The job of a mother is priceless! Nothing else could be more important to me! Sometimes I fail miserably, but I am glad I get to try again every day!!!