21 Oct
Sowing Little Financial Seeds at Bedtime
This Summer we got more serious about our backyard garden than ever before. Most everything we planted actually grew too.
Peppers, tomatoes, pumpkins, cantaloupe, basil, rosemary, chives, blackberries and holy-crap-it’s-trying-to-take-over-the-world mint. That stuff sends out runners and pops up everywhere!
The best part was watching the kids experience the joy of planting, watering, watching. Seeing those first little leaves poke out of the ground. Finally eating the harvest.
For their fifth birthday we planted a few new seeds of our own. Like it or not, our kids are along for the debt-free ride. Mom and dad misbehaved with money in the past and now we all are learning a new way to live.
One of their gifts was The Super Red Racer
He feeds chickens, milks cows and slops pigs and, of course, earns money toward his bike.
The kids were riveted by the story. They watch The Wife and me go to work every day and we have explained why we do, but last night I swear I saw the emotional switch connecting work to money flip in at least one pair of eyes. It was amazing.
The neatest moment came as we finished the story and closed the book. There was a moment of quiet and I started to stand up when one of the kids stopped me and said, very seriously, “Daddy, are there any farms around here?”
I burst out laughing and hugged her. It was a wonderful moment that reminded me how weighty parenthood’s responsibilities are.
We are sowing seeds in fertile ground. It’s awesome and humbling to watch them take root and start to grow.
Take my word for it, though, never plant mint in anything but a pot.
the Dad
Posted by Music Man on 10/21/09 at 4:49 pm
great story! Keep it up man!
Posted by Money Funk on 10/22/09 at 7:36 am
You got the attack of the wild mint, huh? Time to learn to cook Indian food (they use a lot of mint) and drink gallons of mint iced tea; maybe even throw in a mojito party! lol.
That is great that you are teaching your kids while they are young. I wish I did too. I don’t think I have reached my teenage son with that moment yet, but perhaps am getting close. Kid’s learn by example. Well, I hope.
If so… with a story like that… maybe I need to throw a lemonade stand with my daughter or complete a craft that we can sell on Etsy. Then she can learn how to build a fund for that build a bear she wants. Now my son… maybe I should show him that article we had in our local paper about a football player that collects recycling to help his mom out. He does it on his own accord. It’s how he pays for his clothes or school stuff. It was a neat story.
Posted by Kelsalynn on 10/24/09 at 8:25 pm
Aww…such a cute story. As Dave would say, you’re changing your family tree. Awesome job!
I wish more than just about anything that we could have a garden. Renting doesn’t really make that possible but it’d be wonderful if we could. We eat so many vegetables, it’d save a ton of money AND be fun! Now I know where to turn for answers when we finally do have a garden…
Posted by Sharon on 10/26/09 at 4:33 pm
Wish I had that book when my kids were younger! That’s awesome!
Posted by Tam on 11/17/09 at 4:22 pm
I know what my kids are getting for Christmas…. How did you keep the bugs off the melons, gourds and tomatoes?!?!?!