Parenting the Banana Bros: That’s Sharp!

If there’s one thing I hope to teach my kids, it is to think outside the box. Having the ability to look outside of a problem for the solution can be an invaluable skill.

If there’s one thing I hope to teach my kids, it is to think outside the box. Having the ability to look outside of a problem for the solution can be an invaluable skill. One day while unloading the kids’ backpacks and getting ready for homework, I noticed a pink personal pencil sharpener in B’s bag. None of my kids currently own a pink pencil sharpener. 

Mommy: B … where’d this come from? 

B: My friend, Ariyana, from class let me borrow it. 

M: Did you take it? Or did she let you borrow it? 

B: I’m borrowing it. She said I could use it for the rest of the week. I have to give it back Friday. 

M: Ok. Be sure to give it back Friday. I’m sure Ariyana’s mommy doesn’t want her to give away her things. 

B agreed and we went about our day. I thought that was the end of it. Until Friday. 

Friday afternoon B jumped off the bus stop and ran to me grinning from ear to ear. I put out my hands and he empties 2 handfuls of dimes from his pockets. 

Mommy: Where did all of this come from? 

B: Remember I borrowed Ariyana’s pencil sharpener? 

M: Yes? 

B: I used it to sharpen everyone’s pencils. They had to pay me 10 cents to sharpen their pencil. 

M: Wait a minute? Kids in your class paid you to sharpen their pencils? 

B: Yeah. (Pulls $1 out of his pocket.) Ariyana asked me to sharpen 10 of her pencils. 

M: Ariyana paid you to use her own sharpener? 

B: No, Mommy. She paid me to sharpen her pencils for her. That’s different. 

Who knew entrepreneurial skills started in Kindergarten? Speechless, but proud, I look at him and smile. “You know you have to give them their money back right buddy?” 

B: Ok. (long pause) But that’s not until Monday! Today, it is still mine.

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