04/03/2026
Story time.
I have been in the lawn care business for 7 years. In all those years we have never caused any damage to a customer’s property-minus minuscule things that could be easily fixed. Easter week is an extremely busy week for lawn care providers.-IYKYK. This week as I was w**d earring and Carter was on the zero turn I noticed he cut the rig off and approached me. I asked was he ok and what was wrong. He looked me in my eyes as a man and said “Dad I messed up and I need to show you something. “
He walked over to my truck and he said “Dad I didn’t notice the rocks until it was too late, and I didn’t have enough time to raise the deck.” He ran over a pile of rocks that anyone could have overlooked bc the grass was overgrown. My heart was beating out of my chest. Not out of anger of the damage, but because I was extremely proud of him of having the courage to tell me that he messed up.
The past 2 years it’s been a struggle to teach him accountability and to take responsibility for his actions. His go to has always been to damage something and not say anything until I found out it was tore up. A few years back I was talking with my sister Roselyn McKay and I asked her for advice to what tools she used to teach her boys this? She said she would tell them firmly to “BE A MAN!” This is what I have been drilling into Carter since she told me that.
True proud dad moment. Carter even offered his own money to fix his mistake. He looked down and I could tell that he was nervous. I told him to look up at me and I said it’s all good, it was a honest mistake and offered him a firm handshake. I told him to be vigilant and careful and to continue his job. Now I’m not sure if it was the pollen or what but as he walked away my eyes got a lil watery! 🤣🤣🤣
What a true blessing to spend time and working with my son everyday. I thank the Lord for times like this for teachable moments, building bond, and teaching work ethics to my young Padawan. The struggle is real, but oh so worth it!