A 13-year-old boy named Simon begged his mom, Annie, to give him her last $13 to start a business. Despite their poverty and living in an old trailer, Simon believed in hard work and determination—values instilled by his mother. With the money, Simon started a garden business, growing and selling produce. As the business flourished, they moved into a rented home, and Annie quit her janitorial job to help him.
Eventually, Simon partnered with a wealthy farmer, Alex, expanding their operations and exporting produce. Two years later, Simon saved enough to build his mother a $2 million home. Annie was overwhelmed with pride, realizing her dream of a better life had come true, thanks to her son’s perseverance. Despite his success, Simon stayed humble, tending to the garden that started it all.
Lessons:
- Teach children determination and hard work early.
- Actively help your parents when they struggle.
- Success comes from sacrifice and persistence.
Our Granddaughter Accused Us of Being Cheap after Getting Our Wedding Present
My husband and I bought our granddaughter Eloise a wedding gift from her registry, but she accused us of being cheap. She expected the $40,000 cash gift we give our grandkids before their weddings. Upset, she threatened to cut us off.
“We buy a small gift from the registry and give a check for $40,000 the day before the wedding,” I explained. This time, we sent an air fryer, the cheapest item on her list. Eloise called, livid: “An air fryer? That’s the cheapest thing you could find?”
I told her, “Yes, we’re cheap, old, and useless. The only thing you didn’t know is that the day before the wedding, we were going to gift you a check for $40,000.”
Eloise’s reaction made us reconsider giving the cash. Later, she found out about our tradition and accused us of discrimination. “Why didn’t I get anything?”
“We felt after your reaction, it wasn’t right to go ahead with the gift,” I said. Eloise, now boycotting Christmas, refuses to understand our perspective. Despite this, our door and hearts remain open to her.
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