The Kids

I am a kid person.  Always have been.  I am sure that is partly due to the fact that I became an Aunt when I was 4.  I started babysitting when I was very young.  Ran a daycare while my children were growing up.  I love kids.
The hardest thing for me is the kids that do not have very much money.  They will have a dime and want help finding something to buy.  They can get two pieces of bubble gum for ten cents.  I will weigh candy if kids only have a little to spend.  Help them get the most they can for their money.  It is tempting to give candy away, but I do not.  I cannot.  What I do is when people tell me to keep the change I put it in a dish.  When kids are short, I help them out.  I have to be careful.  One day I helped a girl by paying her tax on the candy.  Next time she tried to pretend she did not have tax money when I saw it in her hand.  No.  That is not going to fly with me.  If you have money, pay.  I want to be able to help the kids that really are short.
There have been three instances where kids were short and I did not have change to cover them.  They were all regulars.  I told them I would cover the difference but they need to pay me back the next time they come in.  Two of the kids went right home, got the money, brought it back to be the same day.  One boy immediately brought the money to me the next time he came in the store.  Before he started buying candy.  I appreciate that.  Honestly, I had forgotten he owed me money.  I would not do that for every child.  Some come in here all the time, I know they will be back soon.
For the most part the kids are well behaved, and friendly.  They rarely litter out front.  I leave sidewalk chalk out for them to draw.  There has only been one instance where something crude was drawn.  Little water took care of that.
One terrible thing I have found out about kids is they cannot count change.  The majority of them cannot count change.  I am not sure they even know what each of the coins are.  Seriously!!  The majority are boys.  Some even in junior high.  That scares me.  Schools need to spend way, way more time on teaching children about money.  That is something every single child will need in life.  I know they have to teach for testing not for real life.  Just not right!!! 
My friend, Arizona asked me a few times to start this blog.  She thought I would come across many interesting things to share.  Arizona you are so right.  What a smart friend you are!  It also keeps me busy during slow times.