I write like how I do most things in my life; fast, but lacking perfection. So, I like to have someone proofread my writing to correct misspellings and bad grammar.

My 11-year-old is an excellent writer. So, for the past few months, I have hired my own child to be the editor of my blog on AsianParent.com.

I pay five bucks per blog. And since I blabber on my blog about once a week, my 11-year-old has accumulated a nice stack of five-dollar bills. This is upsetting my 8-year-old.

“I want to make $5 too!” 8-year-old demanded one afternoon.

“You are just not ready to proofread my blog yet. You are only a 3rd grader.” me.

The baby gave me a very sad face…so sad.

“I am sure when you are a 6th grader, you will make a fine editor too.” I comforted the child.

“But I want to make $5 NOW!” baby.

11-year-old watched us in amusement.

Then an idea came to me, “Actually, I have a job that you can do.”

“You can wash our dirty shoes! I have been wanting to clean them, especially both of your muddy tennis shoes. I will also pay you $5 a pair, but you will have to use a brush and soap to clean them.” me.

My 8-year-old clapped with pleasure. The baby loves money.

That was perfect, and everybody was happy. But my brain started cranking…and notified me of a teachable moment.

“Kids. I have always told you how important it is to be educated, and this is a good example of it.” me.

I pointed at my 11-year-old, and said, “When you get to use your brain to make money, you get to have a fancy title, like the Editor of AsianParent.com, and all you have to do is to read a blog to earn five dollars. Some of my blogs are so short.”

“And you!” I pointed to my baby now, “you don’t have enough education to use your brain to make money, you will have to use your muscles to make money.” Pausing for a more dramatic effect on my lecture, I continued, “You have to get a stool in front of the large sink in our laundry room, step on it, roll up your sleeves, and wash stinky shoes to earn your five dollars.”

“You kids better go to college.” I delivered my obvious punch line.

The baby’s beaming face turned into an unhappy frown.

“I don’t want to clean stinky shoes anymore!” 8-year-old.

“What, wait…you get five dollars.” me.

“No!” baby’s face turned away from me, with arms crossed.

Oh no. This teachable moment backfired on me.

“Hold on, kids. There is no shame in hard work. Sometimes, you have to do what you have to do.” me.

“I have worked lots of jobs since high school. And in college, I had a job cleaning dorm rooms.” me,

Silence from the kids.

“I cleaned other college kids’ dorm rooms and their bathrooms to make extra money. There is no shame in hard work. You can clean the shoes, your own shoes!”

“No!” baby.

Apparently, I need a new lesson plan on work ethics for these two. And I could really use a shoe cleaner around here.

Lots of shoes

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