Work Hard, Play Hard

To every thing there is a season. Summer is the time for vacations and jobs to pay for those lazy days of play.

The bright yellow sign that caught my eye read, “Deliver the Phonebook,” with a phone number to call. My two little ones were in the market for a summer job and before I knew it my fingers began dialing. So, there I was, driving to an “informational meeting” with Aubree. I was hesitant and felt as if the word SUCKER were imprinted on my forehead. Nevertheless, I continued with the plan and after the meeting called my husband to enlist and confirm his help and approval.

Our route consisted of 683 phonebook deliveries. Three separate phone books needed to be bagged weighing in at 12 pounds and then delivered sometime between dusk and dawn to residences and businesses alike. The pay out? $225.

The four of us spent 10 hours that day loading, unloading, bagging and delivering phonebooks and yet we still hadn’t finished the job. All I could think was, “This is the dumbest idea I have ever had. Why, why, why did I agree to this?” The reason being, I wanted to teach the value of a dollar and the ability to see through a commitment and not quit when things got hard. The sun was torrid, the books were bulky, the day was long, but our family vowed to finish what we had started. We bonded for sure and it got so tough that Rich and I wanted to throw in the towel. At one point Avery chuckled and said, “Seriously, Mom, I think this is child abuse.”

The next day was the fourth of July. We drove straight to Treasure Island, Fla. and soaked in the rays until we had our fill of the kelp-infested, saltwater and sticky sand. We walked and hunted prize shells, swam to the buoy, body surfed, threw the frisbee and best of all, people watched. I saw people with fairer skin than Michael Jackson and bikini-bearing women that were way to comfortable in all of their skin. Vacation tip: the beach can be a scary place to take your children. More about the sights, less about the sharks, stingrays and sunburns. Our day was perfectly enjoyable.

As I reflected on the prior day’s events I realized just how hard both kids worked with fixity of purpose. And, they will be rewarded accordingly. As Avery and I floated on our tubes I asked him, “Doesn’t this make yesterday all worth it?” He considered that statement and replied, “Yeah, I guess it does, especially once I get paid.” The “Work Hard, Play Hard” philosophy is vital to teaching kids a lifelong work ethic mentality. Don't forget the latter two words. They factor in an important part of the equation.

Word of the Week: Each week I add a word that I have come across in my reading for which I did not know the definition. After looking it up I try to use it in my future columns. Last week’s word was deft, meaning skillful or dexterous.”