Paper Boats for Sale!

Yesterday, my eight-year-old daughter came downstairs to announce that she had boats for sale...only ten pence per boat. I thought it adorably cute, but I thought she was just pretending. Once I realized that she really intended to sell them and expected us to buy them, I didn't want her to be disappointed.

Unfortunately for her, the teacher in me came out instead of the mommy, and I thought to give her a lesson in economics. I told her if she wanted to sell something, then she needed to sell something that people wanted. Bad mommy. Instead of getting my point, she started crying. I felt really bad, but truthfully, I didn't want a paper boat. This week, I've been working hard to de-clutter the house of paper; the last thing I needed was a paper boat.

It did bring back memories of when I was probably just a year or two older than her, and our family was having a yard sale. I picked up several rocks and put them on a table with a price tag. I'm sure they were ordinary rocks, and I'm sure I thought they were beautiful, and surely customers would feel the same. No one bought any rocks until my sweet grandpa (Hedden) felt sorry for me. He bought one of my rocks, and I was so happy.

My husband promised to buy a boat from our daughter (good Daddy), but I soon forgot all about it. This morning, he was going to take her to Home Bargains with him, and she wanted money to spend. I heard her sweet, little voice ringing throughout the house again. "Boats for sale! Only ten pence a boat! Boats for sale!" That's when the mommy in me came out. I am now the proud new owner of TWO paper boats. The smaller one was two pence.

This incident really got me thinking. Someday, my daughter will understand all about economics, and then I will know she's not a little girl anymore. I will remember the days when she tried to sell paper boats to make a little money. I am not looking forward to her growing up. I want to hold onto this moment...when my baby girl is still little. She'll grow up too soon, and I will never forget this. Truly, twelve pence is not too much to pay to see a huge smile on your child's face. Despite the fact that I have been ruthlessly recycling baskets full of paper this week, I am going to keep my lovely paper boats for the rest of my life.

Incidentally, older brother bought three of her boats, and older sister plans to buy one, too. I have a happy little girl, and that makes me happy.