6/14/25

 I am trying to figure out if I am a jerk or not. I feel like a jerk. A neighborhood kid every so often will come to the door and ask for our cans. It started last summer. He rode his bike here with a little tow behind infant seat to place his cans in. So cute.

He let us know his parents were in debt and he was trying to help them out by collecting cans. The kid was about 9/10 years old. Cute kid. He lives several houses down on the next street over. I felt sad for the situation and gave the kids some cans. 

He has returned several times, often knocking on the door while I am in a meeting or on a call, making the dogs go bonkers. I have to excuse myself from the call/meeting to see who is interrupting things. 

I also am concerned that if Moe is outside, he could potentially bite this kid. We rarely let Moe out without supervision to keep him from having the opportunity. Bit what if?

Over the winter, the parents started driving this kid over. They would wait in the car, while the kid would collect cans for his parent’s debt. I have never met the parents.

Today, the kid rolled up with his parents driving a brand new 4 door Jeep. It is nice enough outside to ride a bike today, just saying.

The new Jeep was pretty snazzy. It was a 4-door with a beautiful blue color. A way nicer vehicle than the one I drive. I told the kid that I didn’t have any cans as I had just returned them. I warned him about Moe and if he sees Moe out in the yard to stay away. If Moe bites the kid, his parents will definitely get out of debt.

His solution was to just have ME drop the cans off at HIS house, so he didn’t have to come to us. I let him know politely that I appreciated his idea, however, I was not going to do that.

If Moe is in the yard unattended, he is secured on a chain. He will alert us to shenanigans (aka people in the yard…or near the yard…or across the street). I don’t necessarily want people coming to my door to ask me for things, tell me about the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior or sell me anything. I don’t want people to share their political views with me. I am just minding my business in MY house.

I asked myself, why am I giving this family my cans for their debt, while they drive around in their brand new vehicle? I am driving around in my 2011 vehicle. We keep our house nice. We save for extravagant things. We have our own debt too.

Then I started to feel like such a jerk. What am I really giving this kid for an amount for cans? Best case scenario is 3.00  in cans at a time? Why am I mad about this? 

I guess I don’t agree with pawning kids to get money because the adults have made poor spending choices.  That is what I am mad about.

I am mad the parents have NEVER come over and introduced themselves. I am mad that this kid feels he needs to do this. I am mad at the way it is presented. If the kid was saving up for something, I would be more apt to let him work toward something. 

These parents are not teaching him good life skills. 

When Ethan was young, he would collect cans from our family. He had to ask for them. He had to put the cans into the machine. He saved and saved for well over two years to get a 4-wheeler. He also did jobs around the house for money. He kept the money. He saved and earned for HIS goal. Not to help Paul and I pay for our bills.

What do I do will this annoyance? Do I write a letter and let the parents know that if they are struggling that much with finances, that there are resources within the community and government that can apply to? Would that be helping? They haven’t actually asked me for help other than my $3.00 of cans every now and again.

Maybe I am just having a bad attitude day.