Sometimes we mamas get onto a juicy little something that we don’t want to share. For example, I guard the names or phone numbers of my babysitters. Nothing is more profoundly irritating than calling your babysitter only to find out she has been booked by the neighbour you just finished bragging to about the great teenager who costs next to nothing and is fabulous with the kids.
When I was preggers with my third, I had a little gem that was kept very hush. There was a beautiful little nursery school that charged me $12.00 a morning for my first child, and $6.00 for my second. My third child would only cost me an additional $3.00 for the morning. We mamas who had our kids there had a pact – mum was the word about this find. After we moved away, I was notified that there was an information leak and word of this nursery school spread like wildfire through the playground mamas. Last I heard there is now a hopeless waiting list to get in.
My current juicy secret has to do with the day camp my kids go to, which is a Dutch language camp offered by our school board. Campers attend every morning for the month of July and do amazing crafts, participate in creative outdoor play, and yes, sing the odd Dutch song. The program costs me a total of $180.00 which covers four of my kids for a month of mornings. At Dutch camp no one is even concerned that very few of the kids are actually of Dutch heritage. One friend noted that she has no problem getting her kids to start calling Nonna “Oma” for that price. Pass the wooden clogs, I say!
But there are times when the secret keeping goes to far. I was doing a consumer trade show a couple of years ago and met one of our original customers. I felt very connected to her and was delighted to meet her face to face. When I thanked her for her loyalty I added that we appreciate how our great customers spread the word about Mabel’s Labels. Her response was “Oh no! I don’t tell anyone about you, I like to be the only one with these cool and trendy products!”
That was “mama secret” karma payback time. I was keeping secrets but didn’t want anyone to keep Mabel’s Labels a secret. So, let me know if you want the names and numbers of any of my good babysitters.
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Ha! Take it as a compliment. People want it all to themselves!
(Of course, it’s a lousy way to pay the bills.)
yeah, the old left handed compliment. Glad you love the products, but c’mon, tell your friends!!