“Teamwork divides the task and multiplies the success.”
~Author unknown
Ever since Friday, I’ve been answering emails about Promise.
Did you really name your daughter Promise? Is Promise a real person? How did you write that post, and how long did it take to put together?
The most frequently asked question:
What kind of account will yield that amount of money?
I have to admit, I love this.
Though Promise was born only in my mind, her birth is significant. She is my first character to be given voice to an audience beyond the living room. We don’t ever really see her, and we don’t know much about her, but I think anyone who reads those eleven hundred words can easily understand Promise’s quintessential truth.
I’d like to answer some of these questions today, but since I don’t think Writer Dad’s quite ready for a list post, allow me to spin a yarn instead. If you’re still curious when I’m finished, shoot me an email.
The story starts last November. I’d been writing for around two months. I was all juiced, anxious to start collaborating with Daisy. ”Come on Baby,” I’d beg. ”Let’s write a book.”
“When, in our spare time?” (Note: This is not a serious question.)
….. Writer Dad hovering……
“Fine.”
All I’d written up to that point was a chapter book for Mia and my own abysmal short story, which was by then turning into a complicated novel through some kind of mysterious cell division that I seemed to be both in charge, and under the control of.
I wanted to keep tinkering with the novel, but I didn’t want to get lost in a bog. If I was going to be a Writer instead of just a writer, I needed some good circulation. We don’t go to the gym, only to beat on the same set of muscles, right?
In two decades of teaching, Daisy’s never refused a book as gift or purchase, and I was reading twenty to thirty children’s books out loud to a room full of children, every single day.
I wanted to try my own.
Daisy and I have always thought that there weren’t enough children’s books about money. This is somewhat bizarre, considering that understanding money is essential to the modern world, and something we should learn at the earliest possible age.
Not enough parents really teach it, and the country’s children aren’t learning it in school.
Perhaps it’s a subject that makes people feel uncomfortable, or guilty, or afraid.
I’m not really sure why it is, but I am sure that it’s an empty shelf of possibility.
Daisy and I agreed to gather our thoughts and meet at the same time and place (in bed after the children are asleep) the following week.
One week later….
“You have how many?”
“Five.”
“Five ideas?”
“No. Five stories.”
“Let me see.”
The room is still, except for the rustling of papers.
I’m sitting in a perfect ninety degree angle, with my back to the bedpost. I am, admittedly, quite pleased with myself. Daisy has brought her page of notes; I have brought a notebook. I did not know until that moment that what I had done was impressive, but I am drinking her expression as though it were wine at a tasting.
“Impressed?” I am beaming after five minutes of silence.
Daisy looks at me.
I love this look.
It’s the one that says, “Thank you for making babies with me.”
At least that’s how I would describe it.
That was the beginning of what turned into a long run of weekly exchanges. We met every seven days, and each time I would try to get that look again. This is long before any serious hope of publication; long before I would try to dull my voice to please the gate keepers.
When I first started, I used the books I was reading out loud every day as a template, but soon realized that my attempts to mimic their charm and simplicity were mostly insipid.
My solution: Write the stories as though I was explaining things to my own children, or trying to impress Daisy.
That night, it was the second story I read that you saw last week. Back then, it was simply called Promise. Though it has been heavily sanded, its structure is no different then it was that evening, late last year.
That special evening also yielded two more stories about money that I’ll share at some point in the future, along with two others that might be the clumsiest things ever committed to paper.
Not every investment pays off, but you should never stop making them. Promise the girl was born that night, but so was a promise I made to myself: a commitment to find my voice, and make it heard.
Writer Dad
If you enjoyed my words, please subscribe. I promise I’ll be back tomorrow.
If Mom and Dad never cease their contributions, an average annual return of 10% will make this work.
Related posts:
- The Halloween Promise If you're here from Write to Done, welcome. If you...
- The Truth in Our Make-Believe Be careful of your thoughts; they may become words at...
{ 1 trackback }
{ 32 comments… read them below or add one }
David Hutchison 08.18.08 at 11:20 pm
I enjoyed the story and I completely agree that we need to teach our kids about money…if only we had done some of this as kids. I too am a teacher (computer science) and always loved having kids write compound interest programs - real eye openers.
Now…is one of those other stories good for my four year old?
David Hutchisons last blog post..Upper Canada College Grad Wins Olympic Bronze in Rowing
Barbara Swafford 08.19.08 at 12:40 am
Hi Writer Dad,
First off, this is a beautifully written post. You are definitely a writer.
Secondly, I commend you and Daisy for wanting to educate children about money. Too often parents give their children the impression money grows on trees, and when the child becomes an adult, they can’t understand why they can’t have everything they want.. Duh!
Ryan 08.19.08 at 4:34 am
You combine passion with helpfulness. There is nothing you can’t do.
Sal 08.19.08 at 5:51 am
That is an awesome story. I wish those stories would have been around when I was a kid. I agree, one of the biggest things that we need to teach children is about money, how to handle it, how to use it, and not be consumed by it.
I was walking through the store yesterday looking at toys for Bella. I came across a little store checkout toy and guess what, it didn’t have a single piece of play money. It was all plastic credit cards. I was almost outraged at the toy. I see the day coming when the banks and credit card companies will endorse the toys and their logos will be plastered all over them. That will be a sad, sad day indeed.
For Bella’s 2nd birthday, we got her a Piggy Bank. Every penny, dime, dollar she gets, she wants to “feed piggy”. My wife and I were discussing last night that in about a week or two we need to take all of the change out, roll it and take it to the bank and open up an account for her that way her piggy never gets too “full” to continue eating.
Sals last blog post..Suckered In…Again!
Writer Dad 08.19.08 at 6:51 am
David: I promise I’ll have something for your four year old soon.
Barbara: That’s funny you should say that. One of the other two money stories is about money growing on trees.
Ryan: Thank you, Ryan. That is a very kind thing to say.
Sal: You’re doing it the way it should be done. Good job.
Ian Parker 08.19.08 at 7:36 am
@Sal: I think it’s fantastic that you went with the gift of a piggy bank. I agree that too many people fail or simply forget (or perhaps are afraid of money and therefore cannot teach it to themselves, let alone their children) to teach their kids about money.
Concerning banks and credit companies endorsing toys, if you’ve never seen the movie “Idiocracy”, give it a look. It is ridiculous on one level, but frightening on another level because in some ways, we are headed there.
I personally use a little separate INGDirect savings account to stash some spare money, even though I don’t have a child to save for just yet. It isn’t ever going to yield as much as a mutual fund, but it usually outstrips the rates on most bank CDs.
For just a child’s savings account, you might want to take a look at SmartyPig. It is essentially just an online savings account, but for kids (especially Internet savvy children), it’s a handy way to save money, and the bank sells gift cards so you can give them money as a gift for their savings in a form that won’t be spent before it gets to the bank.
As a disclosure, I have no interest or investment in either company I mentioned above, so I gain no benefit from the recommendations.
@WD: I think you’ve hit on a good market for books, considering the number of “adult” books that are published about money and personal finance each year.
Ian Parkers last blog post..25th Anniversary of PCjr
Evelyn Lim 08.19.08 at 8:04 am
What a great idea!! You are right - there are not enough stories to teach kids about money. I’m not sure if I’m not supposed to laugh or what. But you cracked me up with the line you wrote: It’s the one that says, “Thank you for making babies with me.” It’s so telling that you’ve hit it on the nail!
Sal 08.19.08 at 8:36 am
@Ian: I will have to check that link out. My daughter is still a little young for computers, but knowing how fast kids are learning about computers now, it will be no time before she can out craft me in the mastery of the internet.
@WD: I agree with Ian in the fact that with all the investment and money books for adults, there is going to be a tremendous market for the same type with kids. I know that is one thing I would get for my daughter (she loves books and loves to read) if I saw it in the store.
Sals last blog post..Suckered In…Again!
Writer Dad 08.19.08 at 8:56 am
Ian: Daisy and I no longer care about finding a publisher; we just want to find illustrators to give the words breath. Then we’ll release the books through Amazon or Lulu. They’re coming, I promise.
Evelyn: Daisy laughed out loud at that too. I guess I was kinda trying to be funny, but it does best describe the look.
Sal: I started daily computer lessons with Mia when she was three, and I did the same for Max. Max can now completely navigate around the computer (with filters of course) on his own. Mia’s teacher told me last year that she had never seen a child with a better understanding of the computer. Computers are, at this point, an essential life skill. We cannot start teaching it to our children too early. Your daughter sees you on the computer when you’re bloggging; that’s a good thing. It’s providing her an immediate comfort level with what will one day for her be an important instrument.
Sal 08.19.08 at 9:04 am
@WD: I completely agree. My mom was a big time computer tech at the Exxon Chemical Plant. She taught me everything she knew and for that I am grateful. My daughter will be in a whole nother realm of computer existance by the time she is my age (wow, I don’t ever want to think of her at my age…that means I will be old). I plan on teaching her everything I know, and then turning right back around to be the student.
Sals last blog post..Suckered In…Again!
Vered 08.19.08 at 9:11 am
I have no idea why people feel uncomfortable discussing money. Learning to handle money is an important part of life.
Vereds last blog post..Top 10 Fashion Mistakes To Avoid At All Costs
Chase March 08.19.08 at 9:29 am
Wow, I’m a teacher and I have taught money in my classes but only so far as it has to do with measurement. You’ve inspired me to take the concept of money a bit further than just mathematics this year.
Thanks!
Chase Marchs last blog post..Dragons Can Be Defeated
Sal 08.19.08 at 9:35 am
Go WD! Look at you, already inspiring change in the public schools (that is if Chase is a teacher in a public school system). But even if he is not, I wouldn’t count it unbelievable if it did spark a change in the way many children are educated about money. Besides, isn’t that what school is supposed to do? Teach so that one can get a good job (or if they are lucky enough to be an entreprenuer), but what happens when they make all of that money? They don’t know the first thing about what to do with it.
Sals last blog post..Suckered In…Again!
Writer Dad 08.19.08 at 10:57 am
Vered: Me neither. If we don’t discuss it, we’re not giving our children some very basic tools they need.
Chase: That’s awesome. Really, really great.
Sal: Chase’s comment has made my morning. It doesn’t matter how much you make, it matters how much you spend. We, as a country, are not educated enough in this area.
New Age Bitch 08.19.08 at 11:02 am
I write for children (really!) as if I’m writing for my own too. (Yes! I have spawn!) It makes your voice all the more real. Can’t wait to read more of yours.
Rita 08.19.08 at 1:40 pm
Writer Dad,
A beautifully woven story. I love that line about the look you get from Daisy about “Thank you for making children with me.” Awesome. I KNOW that look (not from Daisy, of course). But when I get that look, it usually means STOP WRITING NOW! lol
Either way, it’s a look you can’t describe any better than you did.
Rita
Ritas last blog post..Touch Base Tuesday
Dot H. 08.19.08 at 1:44 pm
Your posts just get better and better! When I graduaed from high school, I didn’t have a clue about real life. My parents were quite a bit more dysfunctional than the norm, and they didn’t have good money management skills. There I was, about to get my first job, and I didn’t even know how to open a checking account.
There were many other life coping skills that I didn’t learn at home, and I wish that the schools had taught them, instead of making me memorize all the battles in the Civil War — for what? They did make a cursory effort to teach me cooking (toast and cocoa) and sewing (an ugly skirt), but that was about all.
Rita 08.19.08 at 1:48 pm
WD,
Just an FYI: according to Bartlett’s you do not know who said the comment about teamwork, as it is unattributed. The original quote is: “Teamwork divides the task and DOUBLES the success.” Personally, I like YOUR quote better, and since it is unattributed, you may now inform Bartlett’s and ask for attribution. Seriously.
Rita
Writer Dad 08.19.08 at 1:59 pm
NAB: I would love to read verbiage for your spawn. Hit me.
Rita: I like this quote better too. Totally off topic, but seriously, how good is Lost?
Dot: Thank you for saying that. I think parents need to educate themselves about money, and then teach their children by example.
Rita 08.19.08 at 2:22 pm
WD,
Depends on the season, of course! Do you agree?
R.
Ritas last blog post..Touch Base Tuesday
Cath Lawson 08.19.08 at 2:38 pm
Hi Writer Dad. I loved the story about Promise. And it’s fantastic that you’ve been able to write stories about money for children. I would love to introduce my children to develop an understanding of money, in a way that is interesting and easy for them to understand.
I bet you’ve inspired a whole generation of young bloggers to name their child “Promise” too. Come to think of it - it is a lovely name - but I am too old to have another child.
Bamboo Forest 08.19.08 at 3:36 pm
Money money money money. Mooooonnnnnneeeeeyyyyy.
Bamboo Forests last blog post..How to Live a Life of Freedom
Writer Dad 08.19.08 at 3:50 pm
Rita: Sure, I’ve enjoyed some seasons more than others (this last one was my favorite), but the worst season (season three) is still some of the most spectacular television ever scripted. I’m really looking forward to seeing where they take it. I’d developed a theory midway through last season; so far it’s panning out perfectly.
Cath: I had not given that any thought, but it would be wonderful to see a lot of little Promises running around.
Bamboo: You never give me your money. You only give me your funny papers, and in the middle of negotiation, I break down.
Lance 08.19.08 at 6:11 pm
You really have a passion for writing (I may have said this before, and if I did, it still worth repeating). This dialogue above also helps me to understand this story even better - the narrative to the story - I like it a lot.
Keep on writing…
Lances last blog post..Olympic Strength - It’s In All of Us
Rita 08.19.08 at 6:32 pm
WD: According to Bartlett’s I’m afraid that what you said to Bamboo is NOT an original source quotation, but us, in fact, attributed. I would strongly advise you NOT to send that to Bartlett’s as “original,” therefore taking attribution for it. Though quite quaint and interesting, I do not think thtat they would accept it.
As for Lost, I know how it’s going to end. If I could tell you, I would. Story…..
Rita
Ritas last blog post..Touch Base Tuesday
Rita 08.19.08 at 6:34 pm
keyboard problems!
R
Ritas last blog post..Touch Base Tuesday
Andy @ bloginyourface.com 08.19.08 at 7:50 pm
I hope my marriage (in 31 days) can be one-quarter as intimate and emotionally connected as you and Daisy. Thank you for sharing the background information about Promise.
Writer Dad 08.19.08 at 8:31 pm
Lance: Thanks. I guess I’m using my Olympic strength for writing.
Rita: Fix your keyboard.
Andy: You’ll do just fine. You’ll stay connected as long as you never stop communicating. I know it seems obvious, but it’s where most couples go seem to go wrong.
Al at 7P 08.19.08 at 8:54 pm
Writer Dad - the phrase you used to describe Daisy’s look was really effective: “Thank you for making babies with me.” Great post and great story.
It’s amazing what 10% annually can do in the long run. Actually, if someone was able to get 10% returns in 2008, that itself would be amazing. In the long run though, it averages out.
Al at 7Ps last blog post..The Hero with a Thousand Jobs
Rita 08.19.08 at 9:13 pm
lol - THANK YOU FOR KNOWING IT’S A KEYBOARD ISSUE! I’m on my daughter’s computer today, and she is missing NINE KEYS! Seriously! I have big red marks on my fingers!
Rita
Ritas last blog post..Touch Base Tuesday
Stacey / CreateaBalance 08.20.08 at 6:35 am
I hear so much drive in your writing voice - I love that. May we all be so fortunate to be able to continue to find and explore our voices and make our voices heard.
Writer Dad 08.21.08 at 7:10 am
Al: Thank you. Daisy laughed out loud when I read it to her. I knew I was on the right track.
Rita: At least the keyboard doesn’t get in the way of you expressing your candid thoughts.
Stacy: Thank you. Daisy LOVES your site, especially. Talk as though no one is listening, and soon they will be.