When life hands you lemons, try and make a profit

I blame The Lemonade War and a sluggish economy. That’s right, a child’s book and an environment where Mommy simply cannot afford yet another video game and more toilet paper at the same time are to blame for what went down at my house last Friday.

Admittedly, I was also part of the problem. A day set aside to pack most of our belongings and move them into storage, a day spent yelling that Husband clearly has more socks, undershirts, and Q-Tips than the law should allow, was probably not the best time for my kids to take part in one of childhood’s greatest experiences: the lemonade stand.

But honestly, they wouldn’t shut up about it.

After setting a modest goal of $4,000 gross profit by the end of the summer, my boys had been asking for weeks to become mini-moguls. The book piqued their interest and I agreed that a lemonade stand would be a great way for them to learn about money and entrepreneurial fortitude.

I also thought, “This will keep them busy and out of my hair for three hours.”

I didn’t consider they would need start-up capital. Cups, pitchers, lemons, and sugar were just the beginning. They immediately wanted to expand their menu and offer iced tea and comfortable chairs. I nixed the idea of a café on our sidewalk but did agree to a shopping trip where we (read: I) purchased tea bags, cranberry juice concentrate (“Flavored iced tea will sell better, Mama”) and a bag of ice.

“This is a small business loan,” I explained at the grocery store. “You will pay me back after you make a profit.”

“Can I have some tic-tacs and this baseball cap?” Oldest asked while admiring himself in a mirror.

Something told me they weren’t quite getting it.

…read more at Ether Books.

Tags: how to survive running a lemonade stand, lemonade stand, lemonade stands, the lemonade war