Northland Vending is a business that doesn't really know a life separate from kids. I was 7 months pregnant with our first when we started up. So both of them, 4 years and 21 months, have been in the mix in some way or another from day one.
Most of our customers and business partners know our kids really well. They have gotten to do a lot of things, meet a lot of people, and see a lot of places they normally wouldn't have if we didn't own this business, which is pretty cool.
Separate from the obvious kid lottery jackpot of being surrounded by candy all the time or getting to score the goodies for Business Members only at Sam's Club, we're also being diligent about teaching them about how to run a business and steward their money wisely. Maybe they won't have any interest in running their own businesses one day, but the basic principles of running a good business and spending your money wisely hold true no matter what you decide to do with your life.
One thing I've liked so far about homeschooling Clara, is that I can customize her curriculum however I choose. Now, before you go thinking I'm one of those moms that adheres to the practice of "unschooling" by letting her ride roller coasters to learn physics, I assure you, she is receiving a formally accredited education with materials from people who know what they're doing (Ie; NOT me). However, I get to intertwine principles and basics that I deem important- such as: business, money, bible, and compassion just to name a few.
So how does Clara earn money? Well, she helps out around the house. After all, she lives here too. For small jobs, we don't pay her- it's all for the sheer dynamic joy of being apart of this absolutely amazing family (stop laughing). For larger jobs, we do pay her. Going out and helping Peter with the vending route is considered a larger job. The money goes in her piggy bank. She saves it for as long as she wants. Sometimes that's been a couple of weeks, sometimes a matter of hours (thank you, ice cream truck).
Now, if I ask her to do something around the house and she does not do it, the answer is simple. She pays me to do it. (That may sound harsh at the onset, but what do you do when you have a job around the house you don't want to do? That's right. Advantage, plumber). It's my market. I charge what I want. It's usually in line with how much extra change I need to park downtown at the YMCA that day. She's getting better and better about not letting it get to that point, but it sure beats yelling and 50 exasperated reminders. She gets one reminder. If she doesn't do it, those George Washingtons are all mine.
Side note: you may think that sounds like the Love & Logic style of parenting, you're absolutely right. I TOTALLY subscribe to their theories of parenting, they work like magic, and if they had tambourines I could bang and carnations I could hand out, I'd be all over it.
If Clara wants something and she doesn't have the money, she doesn't get it- novel, right? But let me tell you, it totally cuts down on the Target-tantrums. Now, the conversation goes something like this:
Clara: "I want this princess/Barbie/dress/Lego set/doll/puzzle/anything-on-the-entire-shelf"
Me: "Sweet! How are you going to pay for that?"
Clara: "Save my money....."
And we walk away, and I think about what an awesome kid she is before she carelessly spills her high-fructose corn syrup fruit snacks all over the floor. Sorry Target.
That's it. You may think your kids are too young to learn about money, but kids are a lot smarter than we give them credit for. You give them a few basic principles even most adults no longer subscribe to, and they can figure it out.
As our first "employees", our kids have learned a lot already about managing money, manners, honesty, and going a good job. Anyone can teach these qualities to their kids of course, that's why I give the examples, but we are just blessed with a good platform that gives us lots of practical application. As they're getting older, I'm trying to implement other good money lessons like giving your money away and praying about important financial decisions, just to name a few.
All that to say, today Logan joined in on the work of the day and earned his first $2. He doesn't yet have a piggy bank, so he's banking at the Cooperative Pig of Clara, but it was a pretty exciting day for all involved.
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