Noah's Paradigm

During the house boat trip of 2008 Noah pleaded for me to take him out on the jet-ski. I fastened my life jacket and hopped behind Noah. At first he gunned the gas until he heard a sharp word from me. We made an agreement that I would let him have control of the gas and steering as long as he allowed my hands up for guides and obeyed me without question. Together we went flying through Flat Hollow. I taught him how to read the waves and look for the currents hidden just beneath the surface. He soon slowed instinctively at the breaks we raced toward. He scanned his horizon looking for other vehicles and glanced over his shoulder before he turned. It was a bonding hour long ride. I had to trust him with the speed and direction; he had to trust that I would only intervene when absolutely necessary. That was better than any couch therapy we paid for in the last three years.

A couple of days ago Noah came in from playing with cold hard cash in his hand. Suspecting he sold something of someone’s I went on the rampage to uncover the origins of his new booty. He stopped me in the doorframe begging me not to go outside and ask the kids. This spurred me on with a maternal determination to uncover whatever shannigans my son was up to now. One step out the door the confession came tumbling out. ”Ok, Ok Mom I gave Kalin some lego figures to play with.”
“Noah, those aren’t yours to sell!”
“I’m not selling them Mom, I’m renting them!”
“Renting them? For how long?”
“He’ll bring them back tomorrow!”
“Is that right Kalin? You’ll bring them back tomorrow?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Ok, that’s good because if you don’t his big brother will get real mad because those are his and Noah didn’t ask first.”
Once we were back inside our conversation continued:
“Noah how much money have you made?”
“Oh, this dollar Calin gave me makes $14.”
“Really? All from renting toys?”
“No. sometimes I rent out video games.”
“And everyone returns the things you rent.”
“Yep.”
“Well, Noah that’s very interesting. You know you should use me or your big brother as a witness to your rental agreements so no one can say you actually sold it instead of renting. Does that make sense?”
Oh yeah, that’s a good idea!”

What eight year old thinks of these kind of money making schemes? What’s with these kids that pay to rent his stuff? Will he be the kid in Middle School that has a jacket lined with snacks and electronics for sale during breaks?

Yesterday Noah was speaking to his Dad about making money.
“If I was a lawyer would I make lots of money?”
“Well, it depends. But Noah, if you want to make lots of money you should know that it’s the people who own a business that make the money.”
“So if I want to make lots of money I should own the lawyers?”
“Well first you have to work with some lawyers to get the experience but your focus should be on owning the business if you want to make money.”
“Ok, so I’ll be a lawyer that owns a lawyer business.” Here he pauses for awhile looking out the window. “Hey Dad, what do you do?”
His father goes on to explain how “sales is great it’s just like owning your own business……the explanation is met with Noah’s silence.

Noah is possibly the brightest kid I’ve ever met.