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The club my parents instituted in our family of 10 that accomplished its purpose.

      “Come on kids! Put your shoes on and get in the car. We’re going to Common Street “Oh, nooooooooooo”. My father’s announcement was met by groans from us children.

      “Common Street” referred to the latest apartment he had bought and was now renovating. I knew it was useless now to fake sudden illness. When the car pulled up, we emitted more moans and groans from the back seat. The sight of a huge pile of shingles that had been ripped from the roof was disheartening. I remember thinking, why doesn’t he tear it down and start over.

      “Be careful of nails and make sure you keep your shoes on,” Mom would warn as the car doors slowly opened and my siblings and I reluctantly got out.

      “I think I’ve got a rock in my shoe’’ someone would mumble. “Mom! I’ve got to go to the bathroom first” another would whine. Then the inevitable “I’m thirsty”.

      “All right kids, I know it looks like a lot but if we all join in and work together it will be done in no time.”

      Teamwork is my father’s motto. Dad is a businessman, an industrious one at that. Although I did not appreciate it then, I am so grateful that he and my mother forced us gently to work hard and work together.

Starting early

One of my parents’ teaching methods that I appreciated most was the club they began when we were still very young. It was called The ELTCT club (which stood for “Earn and Learn today for college tomorrow) was a way of getting us together to talk about school, vacation plans and goals we had as a family.

It was also about the ideas my father had for a possible family business in which we all could play a part. He stressed good work habits and doing the best job possible.

My father would conduct the meetings in a business-like way, and there would be an air of importance when he would call the meeting to order. He would call upon my oldest brother, Mike, who was 14 years old, to read the minutes from the last meeting.

Next the oldest daughter Jeanne 12, would report how much money we had in the family fund. At each meeting, we paid her our ten cent dues, which she recorded in a small black notebook that we called our “shares”.

Soon after these meetings were initiated, my parents bought a piece of property that included eight log cabins, which we rented throughout the summer months.

My father and brothers cleared some land and the following year we built a campground. After each one of us had finished our chores around the house, we would then help my parents with the campground.

My first job was one I shared with my sister Diane. At 6 and 7 years old, we were responsible to clean the campground “facilities.” Most likely, a facility was the first big word I learned. “Come on, Diane, it’s time to go clean the facilities.” Really, all that meant was that we had to clean the bathrooms.

Today I marvel at the patience my mother exercised while teaching four young daughters how to change sheets, neatly make beds and clean bathrooms.

The most exciting club meeting we had was the one held at the end of the summer. Each child would bring the sheets of paper on which had been recorded the number of hours we had worked around the campground. After adding up our hours we would multiply them by our wage for that summer.

My sister would then dutifully record the figures in the “share book”. To us it was like having hundreds of dollars in a bank account.

When we went shopping to buy new clothes and supplies for school we were excited to spend our hard-earned money. Of course, our mother always guided us in making decisions.

Once we got home we added up the store receipts and found how much we spent. The next step was to list “school supplies” in the share book and subtract it from our balance.

Not only did this teach us the value of money but we learned how to manage our own finances. ey but we learned how to manage our own finances.

Learning for life

Working hard and doing our best were just a few of the principles that my parents taught us as children. Following instructions, distinguishing between needs and wants and money management are all positive qualities they formed within us by taking the time to work with us from the time we were young.

I admire and appreciate the example my parents set for us, and hope to imitate it with my own family in the future.

I reflect back now, and it seems like so long ago when we used to sit around the table and talk about our goals. Today, when faced with a major project, I hear my father’s words. “Just jump right in and begin. It will be finished in no time!”

Editor’s Note:

This testimony was written by a young lady in the Church of God over 28 years ago. She most likely today has grandchildren that she is teaching these same principles. How fast life and time go by.