Another Sunday meant another swim lesson for the boys—this time with a big upgrade. They finally moved up to the large pool, which is 25 meters across and noticeably colder and deeper than the smaller one they’d been using. Their instructor, Natalia, hadn’t realized they could already handle deep water, so she kept them in the small pool until last Sunday. That’s when she had them try the big pool for the first time, having them jump in while she held out a long pole for them to grab.
We weren’t sure why she had them do that—until we learned that Grayson had been telling her they couldn’t swim in the deep end, likely to avoid the colder water. Both boys get cold quickly, so it made perfect sense. We reassured her that they’re just as confident in deep water as in the shallow pool, explaining that back in the States they were diving down to three meters without any problem and spending countless hours in pools and lakes—they’re both like fish in the water.
So this Sunday, they spent the entire lesson doing laps in the big pool. After about ten laps, we completely lost count—safe to say they swam hundreds of meters by the end. Natalia had them practicing backstroke, freestyle, kicking with a noodle and a board, and even diving down to the bottom using the stairs as a guide. For the final 15 minutes, they retreated to the small pool to warm up and enjoy some well-earned playtime.
The kids’ school organized a “Szkolny Kiermasz” — a School Entrepreneurship Fair for first graders and up — so naturally we signed Grayson up to participate. It’s a small fair where students can sell handmade crafts, baked goods, books, and even their second-hand toys (as long as they’re in working condition). The event usually ties in with a holiday—this time, Christmas. Participation wasn’t mandatory, and everyone, including parents, was invited to come support the kids.
The school Director summarized the event in an email to parents: "Serdecznie zapraszamy na Szkolny Kiermasz Przedsiębiorczości. Podczas kiermaszu uczniowie będą mieli okazję zaprezentować własne pomysły, produkty i inicjatywy, rozwijając przy tym kreatywność, zaradność oraz umiejętność współpracy. Wydarzenie to także doskonała okazja, aby nadać nowe życie przedmiotom, z których już nie korzystamy, ale mogą posłużyć innym. Zachęcamy wszystkich Państwa do odwiedzenia kiermaszu oraz wsparcia dzieci w ich działaniach — każdy zakup to motywacja i radość dla młodych przedsiębiorców. Dziękujemy za zaangażowanie i serdecznie zapraszamy!"
Translation: “We cordially invite you to the School Entrepreneurship Fair. During the fair, students will have the opportunity to showcase their own ideas, products, and initiatives while developing creativity, resourcefulness, and collaboration skills. The event is also a great opportunity to give new life to items we no longer use but can still be useful to others. We encourage everyone to visit the fair and support the children in their endeavors—every purchase brings motivation and joy to these young entrepreneurs. Thank you for your involvement and we cordially invite you!”
On Friday, when I picked up the boys from school, I put Grayson’s name on the list of participants. He seemed excited, and we suddenly had the whole weekend to figure out what he could sell. Using their unwanted toys wasn’t an option—they had just given those away to Olek in Grajewo during my quick trip there. So Sylwia took Grayson to the store to look for something he could make and sell. They ended up finding a rubber bracelet–making kit, with enough supplies to create dozens of colorful bracelets. She added a second small kit for beaded bracelets.
The entire weekend turned into a bracelet workshop. It became a full family affair, and by Sunday night we had made around 60 bracelets. We added a notebook, a calculator, and some little signs for his table setup. We also included a small stash of change so he’d be prepared if customers paid with larger bills. Once everything was ready, we counted the bracelets, set prices, and calculated his profit potential. If he sold out, he could easily double the initial 70 złoty investment. Realistically, we just hoped he would at least break even—and learn a great lesson in finance and sales along the way.
On Monday morning, Grayson was eager and ready for the fair, scheduled from 2–4 p.m. Sylwia and I both planned to be there to help him. But around noon, the school called to say that Damian had a stomachache and wasn’t feeling well, and asked us to pick him up. The plan was for Sylwia to bring him home, see how he felt, and then decide whether we’d all go or if I’d go alone.
The moment he walked through the door, he vomited all over the floor—several times. Clearly, he needed to stay home and rest. After a quick cleanup, I headed to the school while Sylwia texted me that he had already fallen asleep.
I arrived about fifteen minutes early, grabbed Grayson’s supplies from his locker, and set up his table. He joined shortly after, and by 2:15 p.m. he had made his first sale—a 5 zł bracelet proudly marked as “sold” in his notebook. After a few more sales, things got quiet for a bit, so I encouraged him to slightly lower the prices on the more expensive bracelets. He agreed—and the customers came. By the end of the event, he had sold 12 bracelets and earned about 40 złoty. Not bad for his first time, even if he probably spent more on other kids’ toys than he earned.
But he had a blast, and I’m sure he learned a few important lessons that day. When we got home, Damian was still asleep, and Grayson couldn’t wait to share his experience—and show off the toys he picked out for both himself and his little brother.
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