These boys of mine will drive me crazy one minute and the next minute they have me beaming with pride and saying those are my boys. Both of this things happened yesterday when they finally decided to go and give Dorrdash a try. Thank the LORD we had gas in the car because David and I didn’t have money to give them. But I let them have my Whataburger Gift Card to get a drink with.
As a mom, sometimes I just have to sit back, shake my head, laugh, and say, “Lord, what in the world is going on around here?” And yesterday was definitely one of those days at our house! It seems like the past couple of weeks Charlie has been listening to me even though I didn’t think he had.
Thanks to David stepping up and setting boundaries instead of me always being the bad guy he told Charlie that he needs to start helping more with the car payment and other expenses. We understand that everybody has to start somewhere, but the bills don’t stop coming just because you’re trying to figure out what you want to do with your life.
While I was working last night David took Charlie to Walmart, and when they came back, I went downstairs looking for Charlie. I asked David, “Where’s Charlie?” He told me Charlie had gone to get Bradley. Now, I’m thinking there goes what little gas we have that David needed to use to get to work. Then David said the boys have decided to go DoorDashing!
Wait a minute! What? These boys actually got out of the house and went to work? Somebody might want to check and see if the world is coming to an end! LOL Now, before anybody gets too excited, let me tell you how much they made. They earned a grand total of $8, which worked out to $4 apiece. And that money had to go right back into the gas tank.
Did that help us pay the car payment? Nope. Did it take care of any bills? Not a chance. But they got out there and tried something, and I’m choosing to look at that as a start. The funny thing is that I wish they had put that gas in David’s truck because he needed it more. But boys don’t always think about those things the way their mama does!
And speaking of things that make a mama shake her head, they also brought me home a Three Musketeers candy bar. Now, I appreciate the thought. I really do. But I don’t think I’m ever sending those boys to the store to buy me a candy bar again! They stopped at QT and paid FOUR DOLLARS for a regular-size Three Musketeers. Four dollars! Y’all, I’ve taught them better than that. They could have passed a Dollar Tree on the way home, but apparently, that thought never crossed anybody’s mind.
I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. I think they’ve lost their freaking minds! But I did get my candy bar, and sometimes you just have to count your blessings, even when those blessings cost four dollars at the gas station. Did I get a drink no, of course not because they had to get the biggest drinks they could get at Whataburger and that was okay because I had Tea and Charlie didn’t have anything to drink.
After their big DoorDash adventure, the boys came home with another idea. Bradley has been doing Instacart and apparently has been making more money doing that, so now Charlie and Bradley are talking about giving it a try. Naturally, I had a few questions. I asked them, “So, when are y’all going to start Instacart?”
Their answer was that they think they’re going to do it every other day. Well, that’s a start, at least. Now we just have to see whether they follow through with the plan. But do I agree with just doing it every other day no, I don’t but something is better than nothing right?
Bradley apparently thinks he doesn’t need to worry about money because his girlfriend, Ghost, should handle all the bills. And I’m just going to say that I don’t agree with that way of thinking. But that’s a whole other story, and I’m not going down that rabbit hole today!
What I’m really interested in is seeing these boys get out there, work, and start taking some responsibility for their own expenses. And I cannot wait to see Charlie in a grocery store shopping for other people’s groceries! If you know Charlie, you know that shopping for groceries isn’t exactly the first thing that comes to mind when you think about him. I’m curious to see how this is going to work out. Will he enjoy it? Will he decide it’s not for him? Will he discover that he actually likes earning money this way? Only time will tell!
As for today, Charlie is still sleeping in his bed. So whether the boys will actually get up and go Instacart shopping or whether this is going to turn into another one of those ideas that sounds good when everybody is talking about it, I honestly don’t know. But I’m trying to stay hopeful.
My hope and prayer is that each of them can make at least $100 a week. That might not sound like a lot to some people, but around here, it would help. Every little bit makes a difference when you have bills to pay, gas to buy, and responsibilities that aren’t going away.
I’m not expecting these boys to figure everything out overnight. I know everybody has to find their own path, and sometimes that path includes a few wrong turns, some expensive candy bars, and a whole lot of lessons along the way. But I want to see them try and not sleep all day.
I want to see Charlie discover what he can do, learn to be more independent, and understand that earning money takes effort. I want to see Bradley find his way, too. And I want both of them to realize that building a future takes more than talking about what they’re going to do. At some point, you have to get up, walk out the door, and give it a try.
Yesterday, they did that. They went DoorDashing. They made $8. They bought gas. They brought their mama a ridiculously expensive candy bar. And they came home with another plan. Is it everything we need? No. Is it a beginning? I’m praying it is. Is it what I would have chosen for them no,
I’m putting this whole situation in the Lord’s hands because He knows what these boys need, where they’re going, and what lessons they still have to learn. I can encourage them, pray for them, and remind them that the bills need to be paid, but I can’t make their decisions for them.
So today, I’m choosing to be thankful that they got out of the house and tried something new. I’m praying that their Instacart idea works out and that they discover the satisfaction that comes from working hard and earning their own money.
And I’m praying for patience for myself, too, because Lord knows I’m going to need it!
Please continue to pray for me, Charlie, and Bradley as we navigate this next chapter. Pray that these boys find their direction, that the opportunities in front of them lead somewhere good, and that they learn to take responsibility for their futures.
Maybe Instacart will be just what they need. Maybe something else is waiting around the corner. We don’t know yet, but we’re going to take it one day at a time and trust the Lord to guide us.
And if you happen to see Charlie shopping for groceries, please don’t tell him I said I couldn’t wait to see it. I don’t want him to know how much entertainment I’m getting out of this whole situation! After all, a mama has to find the humor wherever she can. This is why I pick my battles because David has finally agreed to start Doordashing or to do Instacart with me when he gets home at night and to me that is a Godsend.
Grateful, Thankful, and Blessed,
GreatfulMoments.com
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie David Cates
