Kids and Candy

Last summer, I thought it would be fun, and a great way to teach the kids the value of work, if I took the kids with me to the store each day. Now before you holler, "Child-labor," may I remind you that working your own kids doesn't count, AND they were rescued often by their grandma who would then take them to the pool, or to get ice-cream or just to her house to play. ("Those poor little kids..." she would say. Of course, this is the same mom who used to pile on the chores on my brother and me, citing such phrases as "Hard work never hurt anyone," or "When I was your age...")

Remembering last year's attempt, I wasn't really looking forward to this summer. I thought, for a fleeting moment, of sending the kids to cool camps or classes, but nah...Instead, we tweaked our plans until we've come up with a plan, a good one so far.

First, we have enlisted help. (Help me, Obi Wan!) Our Obi Wan is Jess, our sitter, who comes three days a week. Her job description: Take the kids to the pool, make smoothies, referee board game disputes, and play lead guitar on Rock Band. Second, the days when Jess can't come, or we can't afford her, the kids go to work with me. FUN! Third, I shortened the shop's hours to accomodate taekwondo lessons and baseball games and made Saturdays by appointment only.

So far, and I know it's not far in yet, being only June, but so far...so good. The kids are happy that we don't have to stay in the shop till 5, and I'm happy knowing that when school starts, I can readjust the hours back to normal. The kids love the sitter, and I love those days when I can work in peace.

I keep thinking about that movie Baby Boom, when Diane Keaton was making homemade babyfood after leaving the corporate rat-race. "I have a crib in my office and a mobile over my desk and I LIKE it that way." I've always liked that scene. That's me: I want my kids there (Not ALL the time, but some is good!). I relish my time with them. I know some people out there won't get it, won't understand, but I'm not looking to be Hershey here. Just like in that movie, "the rat race is going to have to deal with one less rat." Give me my little store, my kids underfoot, and you got one happy chocolate-girl.