Mayhem. Retirement planning specialist.
Last night our dinner conversation went a little like this:
Mayhem:When I have kids, I am NOT doing all this work you guys do.
Me: You mean like fix your dinner, do your laundry, play with you … that kind of stuff?
Her: Exactly!
Keith: Well who’s going to do it?
Mayhem: My husband.
Me: Oh, so you’re going to go make the money and your husband can stay home with the kids?
Mayhem: Are you even kidding? No way!
Me: So what are YOU going to do?
Mayhem: I’m going to relax.
Keith (stifling laughter): What do you mean by relax?
Mayhem: I mean lay around and watch whatever TV shows I want.
Me (unable to stifle my laughter): And how will you have money to pay for your house and your food and all the millions of things your kids ask for?
Mayhem: That’s why I’m working NOW! Don’t you get it? I’m doing all my working now so I can retire when I’m thirteen.
Keith: Thirteen?!?!
Mayhem: Yes! Thirteen.
Me: And how are you going to make your money now?
Mayhem: Selling more potholders. And donuts. I’m going to start selling donuts too.
Me: So you’ve got seven years left to work.
Mayhem: Yep.
Keith: Sounds like a pretty solid plan.
Mayhem: Oh, and by the way, you guys can come and visit when I have a family, but you should know that we’re going to be living in New York.
Me: Really?
Mayhem: Yep.
Me: Where are you going to live in New York?
Mayhem: In the city, you know, like in a hotel. But we’re going to knock down the walls between a bunch of rooms and make one big hotel room. It’s called a penthouse. Have you ever heard of those?
Me (shaking head in disbelief): I have. And I think you’re going to need to sell an awful lot of potholders and donuts to buy one.
Mayhem: You’re forgetting, I have SEVEN years. That’s like FOREVER!
Keith: Sounds like you’ve got it all figured out.
Mayhem: I do. And it was pretty easy. I just decided.
Mayhem’s Guide to Retirement … now available for pre-order 
Oh, to be that young and blissfully naive… Lol. With her creativity and drive, though, she probably WILL be able to retire much earlier than most! So she’s still ahead of the game
Blissfully naive is my favorite … I want to be blissfully naive again. But you’re right, her thinking is going to keep her a step ahead
I LOVE THIS KID.
Sometimes I just can’t believe the things she comes up with. This HAD to be documented. Obviously
Oh to have life figured out like Mayhem! She is a trip.
I wanna be just like her when I grow up
So adorable!!! Mayhem is awesome!
I mean she’s got more years to go than she’s lived, and look at all shes done already!
(I don’t know what your opinion on watching a show staring someone we’ve now learned isn’t such a great person, maybe? , and I don’t wanna turn the conversation that way here…but) there is a great episode of the cosby show where theo thinks he can afford his own life and they turn the whole house into a lesson on the real world. I’d love to see how Mayhem gets around all those pesky things like supplies to make her products and taxes lolol
I love that episode!!!
oh and did you ever start selling those potholders online? I didn’t want to pester you too much about them but I am dying to own one lol!
Not yet!!! But for VERY good reason … we’re holding on to them, but WILL be selling soon. And it’s part of a project that we are super excited about. Is that enough of a tease?!?!
any hints on how much to expect to pay? and will it be random ones or can we choose/order a color set?
Yes! She sold them (in person) for $10 per pair and we’ll plan to keep it the same (works perfectly for the project we’re working on). We’ll also have to factor in some shipping cost but we hope to keep that no more than $3. More details in approx 2 weeks
Ok thanks!
She’s just awesome. Always brings a smile to my face!
Thank you so much!
Best retirement plan ever. ?
Why didn’t WE think of this?!?!
I need a retirement plan?! This stresses me out, I wish she was already selling donuts. Now I need one, or twelve. Your 6 year old is more on top of life than I am.
So much love for this kiddo! She is wise !!!!
I only hope to keep following Mayhem’s beautiful dreams as she gets older! I learn from your every shares about her. And though her perception of time and how things work in the adult world is different, she is SO right about the most important thing here. She said her future is so and all she had to do was decide. Almost always, that’s all it takes to get things moving! Sometimes, kids just get it! The world better make room for her, because she’s here to create movement. Cool girl, cool family
thanks so much for sharing her with us!
I would absolutely love to know who the old soul is who invaded that adorable little girl’s body and mind! :-)))
This is the best convo i’ve heard all day! just tooooo adorable!! i don’t think ive ever thought about working at that age~~ she def has a better retirement plan than anyone i know! and who doesnt luv the part where the husband takes care of everything LOL!! i need to reinforce that ahaha~ thk u for sharing!
I tell you, this girl knows what she’s talking about. Just think about it: how many donut/potholder combo companies do you know of? EXACTLY. Enjoy your retirement, Mayhem.