Friday, April 15, 2011

Will work for toys...

Sure.

She looks sweet.


But underneath that cute, crinkly blonde hair lurks the brain of a seasoned negotiator.

Seriously.

When this Grandlittle gets home from pre-school, I usually let her watch a little TV...ummm...educational of course...ummm... yeah... and on those educational TV channels they have a lot of advertisements for toys.

Every day we go through the standard four year old litany, "Gwamma, will you buy me that? For my birthday?"

And every day I repeat about 36 times, "Probably not, you already have a lot of toys."

This week I came up with a brilliant idea of making her work for a toy. You know, start building a healthy relationship with money, teach her young that hard work = benefits, and, oh yeah...hopefully quit the request for every new thing that flits onto the TV screen.

I made up a handy dandy little chart and explained the concept to her. She seemed suitable intriqued.


First we went outside and planted some mint. That went pretty well. She carried the bucket of compost, kinda/sorta dug the hole with her little purple hoe, and was even willing to get her hands dirty in the process.

Next we headed inside, where we washed our hands and I told her she was going to help me organize some cupboards.

The cabinets we were straightening were the tupperware and storage container ones, so I told her to separate all the glass and all the plastic and then we would group them.

That worked just perfectly.

It was when we went to start putting them back that things started falling apart.

She did NOT like my idea of stacking things and putting the lids by them. I told her we had to stack things or they would never fit back into the cabinet. She told me, and I quote, "That is not a very good way of organizing Gwamma. Let me show you how to do this."

Hmmm...

"Okay, smarty pants," I inquired, "If we do it your way, where am I going to put all the extra containers?" With hands on her little hips, she opened all the subsequent cabinets filled with baking pans and dishes and told me she would just empty them, too, and then there would be plenty of room.

Hmmm...

I asked her where we would put all the pans then.

She thought and thought.

"I'm just a worker person, Gwamma," she said, "If you want me to figure that out I'm going to need TWO toys."

...

...
Sigh...

post signature

54 comments:

Anita said...

You have a future entreprenuer!

Your chart reminds me of my sticker chart that I had for my kids. Chores were listed, and when done, a sticker from my "sticker drawer" was chosen by the kid and placed on the line of the particular chore.

It worked because they competed to see who had the most stickers.

Good story about cute little Grandlittle! :)

Anonymous said...

I hope she doesn't have a union card and bring you to the bargining table.

Jocelyn said...

OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH to cute!!!! Wow...you have a really hard worker and she does have a point Boss Lady!!!!

Wishing you a great one!!!

La said...

She's a quick learner. :o)

HAPPY FRIDAY!

Paula ~ castleandcottagesigns said...

Ah what a smartie! Mark my words, she's gonna be a millionaire some day:)

Terra said...

OMG - She's got Hailey's comment this week beat by a mile or more! That is HILARIOUS!

Donnie said...

She sounds like she's going to end up with 2 toys anyway. Quite the smart girl.

Wanda..... said...

Your granddaughter and my grandson would make a great 'future' pair in the business world. In the second grade he sold his drawings, but had others scout potential buyers for part of the profit!

Wendy said...

To funny! You have a diabolical genius on your hands there!

ImagiMeri said...

Hey Girlfriend,

She's a freakin' genius! I'm going to start requesting advice from her.

Love ya'
Meri

Julie Kwiatkowski Schuler said...

It's better to learn early. If you don't put a price on your work, no one else will!

dawn said...

I love this!!
I love it because I'm desperate to be a gramma and I love it because she is SO blessed to have your creative influence in her life.
Fabulous blog!!!
~d

Linda @ A La Carte said...

Jenny Jenny, she has you my friend! What a bright and wonderful child. hugs from the newest Grandma, Linda

~✽Mumsy✽~ said...

Oh she is a darling, and you're a wonderful grandma! All my kids did at grandma's house was watching TV and be quiet!

Vicki/Jake said...

Well Gwamma, YOU started it....

Jeanie said...

Before you know it you will be having new cabinets built for your pots and pans....and for all of her new toys.

Busy Bee Suz said...

Oh my gosh...I just LOVE her!
I agree; two toys for using her brain!

LuLu Kellogg said...

She's a smart cookie, just like you!

xoxo

Bossy Betty said...

Brains and looks! She's got this all figured out!

Keri {One Mama's Daily Drama} said...

Wow, what a negotiator! I've tried paying my kids for a few chores, but they lost interest pretty quickly.

Lorrie said...

You can't put one over on that little grand girl!

Susan Anderson said...

She is just too funny! You are so lucky to have her living close, Jenny.

=)

Rocky Mountain Woman said...

Oh my, the force is strong in that one....

Ames said...

This tickled me. She is quite the little negotiator gwammaw. :)

My mom had big deep cabinets in her kitchen and she let my daughter and my nephew play in her Tupperware all the time. They would empty out the cabinet and play in it too! Wooden spoons and plastic bowls have always been a favorite with my grands!

Ok I'll let you get back to crackin that lesson whip gwammaw.:)~Ames

Ms. A said...

I need her at my house! If she could figure out my cabinets... I'd buy her a truckload of toys. (to take to your house, of course)

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

.....and who the heck said child labor was cheap??? Heeehehe!!! She's the cutest little negotiator I've ever seen though.

God bless and have a fantastic weekend!!!

Ruby Hawk said...

Let me tell you, grandchildren are smart. They certainly have a mind of their own.

H said...

Smart Grandlittle!!

Jo said...

i love it, what a great grand! just wait till she wants her first car ... oh ... the poor parents ... lol!

Splendid Little Stars said...

Oh that little Morgan is a smarty pants all right!
and super duper cute to boot!

Unknown said...

LOL! Gotta luv the things kids come up with. You taught her well, she's a quick learner:-)

Stop in and give my blog a read at The Voices Within Unleashed

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

Hmmmmm. I'm going to have to try that one out on my boss! What a smart cookie she is!

Rachel said...

That is too cute. She will surely run the world someday!
~M

Allie said...

Oh my stitches!!!!! She cracked me up!!! And so do you!!

Anonymous said...

Jenny thanks for stopping by!! I love that she is such a negotiator, and so darn cute too!! Sue

"Alone again.... naturally!" said...

Genious!

Anonymous said...

Hahahahah! I love her!

It hurts when they get smarter than you, doesn't it?

PERMANENT POSIES said...

Now that was profound and so dang funny! That was a great life lesson. Negotiate for more money...hahahaha.

Vintagesouthernlife said...

She is so cute and smart!

Gattina said...

Lol ! very logical !

People Who Know Me Would Say: said...

a world-class negotiator. and the thing is, with the inherent cuteness factor, you don't even see her brain power sneaking up to clobber you!

LeadingMama said...

Love it! My son is a negotiator, too. Last week when one of the other moms at his preschool asked if her son could go first at the water table because he had to go home early, my son thought about it and told her "okay, if I can come to your house for a play date." Seriously. He is brokering his own play dates like an agent. He's 4. Thank God the other mom has a healthy sense of humor!

Kat said...

Gotcha! That is just too adorable. Yet another reason to keep child labor laws intact - to protect US haha! What a darling little girl. Kat

Nellie's Cozy Place said...

Morning Jenny,
Now you have a brilliant girl on your hands!! That is too funny!
children are just such a riot, they do say the darndest things like Art
Linkletter used to say.
So how did you get yourself out of this one???
Been purchasing any toys lately???

Hope all is well with you and yours hon, Blessings, Nellie

Unknown said...

Grandchildren ... ahhh ... busy little hands and minds. I can relate to her thought process as I have the same ones on occassions. Thank you for your comment on my recent tale.

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

LOL! She's a sassy one alright! I hope she finds a way to work herself up to two new toys :-)

Willoughby said...

That's so clever! She is one smart little girl!

Mom said...

Oh my gosh !! this is supercute !! absolutely lover her :D

Unknown said...

Too adorable...but then again she comes by those adorable genes naturally ;)

Amy said...

Oh dear! She is so clever at wrangling out more toys. What a funny little girl.

Serline said...

Well, little kids these days are prepped for the real world much too soon... or are they born with the natural talent to get the most out of doting parents, grandparents, uncles, aunties...

gayle said...

4 year olds say the cutest things!

Bonnie said...

That is the cutest and smartest thing I have heard in awhile! She is going to be one savvy business woman!!!