My special helper

My granddaughters call me Mimi.  I was present for each of their births and have placed myself, welcome or not, as a central figure in their lives.    Driver, dominant game teacher…now loser, sleepover queen, lifeguard, nature teacher, recreation and activity leader, and general cuddle on the couch when we have time to be together, I make a space for myself.  Teetering on the teen years, they want new clothes and gadgets, so as a small business owner, I have opportunity to give them some hours if they want to start making money.  When I was young, it was understood that if I wanted anything beyond a roof over my head, and new underwear and shoes at the beginning of the school year, I needed to hit the sidewalk and apply for jobs any place that would hire me.  I packed books at a local church, cashiered at the local grocery store, babysat, sold seeds and cards, all before I was 13.  By the time I was a teen, I had saved enough money for a bicycle and began pedaling 8 miles each way to a country club in the next town…beginning a career in hospitality and lifeguarding that would last me through college.  Now, the girls are getting ready to start earning their own coin.  I have committed to “scheduling” my oldest for 1-2 hours a week in one of my many ventures.  I am trying to keep it creative and fun to hold her interest until she sees the reward of a pay envelope and becomes motivated on her own.  She has a timecard with her name on it at the garden center where I put in a couple shifts a week.  Last week I put her to work assembling and installing plastic edging for a customer…she learned about encroaching plants that were crowding the old edging, how to divide and make room.  Every time she works gardening with me her assignment is to learn one new plant, last week it was tulip.  Yesterday, she helped me assemble gift bundles in cellophane and a bow for quick Mother’s Day grabs in my little boutique shop.  She is creative, fun, and is learning the value of taking some time to work.  I gave her some cash when her dad came to pick her up for Taco Tuesday.  She was smiling and proud…as was I, so glad to have help from someone I love.