A 13-year-old boy named Simon begged his mom, Annie, to give him her last $13 to start a business. Despite their poverty and living in an old trailer, Simon believed in hard work and determination—values instilled by his mother. With the money, Simon started a garden business, growing and selling produce. As the business flourished, they moved into a rented home, and Annie quit her janitorial job to help him.
Eventually, Simon partnered with a wealthy farmer, Alex, expanding their operations and exporting produce. Two years later, Simon saved enough to build his mother a $2 million home. Annie was overwhelmed with pride, realizing her dream of a better life had come true, thanks to her son’s perseverance. Despite his success, Simon stayed humble, tending to the garden that started it all.
Lessons:
- Teach children determination and hard work early.
- Actively help your parents when they struggle.
- Success comes from sacrifice and persistence.
I Fainted during a Family Gathering Because My Husband Won’t Help with Our Newborn to Let Me Sleep
My husband and I were meant to be a team when we welcomed our first child, but he turned on me. Recently, I experienced one of the most embarrassing and eye-opening moments of my life. Let me backtrack a bit. My husband, Jake, 29, and I welcomed our beautiful daughter, Tilly, three weeks ago.
Whenever I ask Tilly’s father for help, he says, “Let me relax; my paternity leave is so short.” I’ve struggled alone with sleepless nights, and things went too far last Saturday during a family gathering. As the party progressed, Jake was busy telling everyone, “I needed this paternity leave because I couldn’t imagine how much more exhausted I would have been working AND taking care of the baby.”
Exhausted, I fainted right there in the middle of the party. I awoke to concerned family members and Jake’s frown. He later exploded at home, annoyed that I embarrassed him, accusing me of making him “look bad!”
Just as I was about to leave for my mom’s place, my in-laws arrived with a professional nanny they had hired. “She’s here to help with the baby and to teach Jake about caring for her,” my MIL explained. They also insisted I go on a spa retreat for a week.
Overwhelmed by their kindness, I immediately agreed. The week was blissful and helped me recover. Back home, the changes were remarkable! The nanny had put Jake through a rigorous “baby boot camp.” He learned to change diapers, cook baby meals, soothe a crying baby, and manage a sleep schedule. Jake greeted me with a heartfelt apology, having sold his vintage guitars to pay for the nanny and my retreat, showing his commitment to our family.
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