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When life hands you a heatwave, make lemonade

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<h2>When life hands you a heatwave, make lemonade</h2>
<p>Originally posted on <a href="https://www.idahoednews.org/top-news/when-life-hands-you-a-heatwave-make-lemonade/?utm_source=republish&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=republish">IdahoEdNews.org</a> on July 16, 2024</p>
<p>Our kids recently followed up the most American of holidays with the most American of pursuits — turning a profit.

To do that, they opted for the most American of endeavors amid last week’s heatwave — a lemonade stand by our neighborhood entrance.

But why settle for lemonade alone when you can also sell cookies? Before you could say heatstroke, my wife and daughters pumped out a batch of the chocolate chip variety and then a batch of chocolate muffins because … chocolate.

And why settle for lemonade and baked goods alone when you can also sell bracelets and stickers?

The ambition was palpable.

Toss in some candy from that Fourth of July parade a few days earlier and the kids were in biz. Well, some of them were.

The pursuit was serious business for our 12-year-old, who chided her younger sister after learning that the 9-year-old was selling bracelets for 50 cents instead of a dollar, the listed price right above the 50-cent cookies.

“A dollar’s a lot,” our 9-year-old said after the ordeal. “She’s so mean,” she then whispered, referring to her sister/boss.

Customer service and quality control were also lessons learned. I was pleased to see the girls had offered their grandpa one of their seats under the shade of an umbrella when he stopped for a swig.

Win.

Just after 2 p.m., when the temp surpassed 95 degrees, I slipped out to make a few purchases of my own.

I would not be getting a discount just because I’m their dad, the little entrepreneurs had assured me.

I bought two cookies, two muffins, two stickers and a lemonade, which, I had to tell them, had been warmed by the sun.

Loss.

Before I could suggest grabbing more ice from the house, our-12-year-old appeared with a bowl full. She dumped it in — and had the sense to move the jug into the shade under the table to help it stay cooler.

Win.

Lemonade and cookies sold, the girls gathered the leftovers and headed home for the best part: counting the cash, which turned out to be a generous $60 from kind neighbors, friends and family members.

Big win.

Another business lesson — splitting profits — soon dampened the mood, however. Sixty dollars split three ways quickly turned into $20 apiece, which they were OK with.

I tried to lighten the mood by assuring them that at lease they didn’t have to pay taxes on their earnings. Uncle Sam’s not interested in corner lemonade stands, I explained, but someday he’d come knocking.

This sparked further discussion: “You mean the government just takes part of your check every time you get paid?” our 10-year-old asked.

Since they didn’t have to pay Uncle Sam, I suggested, they could pay me a cut for using my kitchen and appliances to prep the goods.

Not a chance, my wife assured me.</p>
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When life hands you a heatwave, make lemonade