DEAR MISS MANNERS: My son, who is 13, has a job mowing and weed-eating yards. He has started his own business: He bought his own equipment with saved-up birthday and Christmas money, and he keeps his business funds, spending money and savings in separate accounts. He sets his prices based on current fuel costs and the price of other parts and equipment, like weed-eater string.
Some of his clients are great-grandparents on his mother's side, who willingly pay what he charges. However, after doing a job for my grandfather, Peepaw asked him what he owed. When my son said, "$10," Peepaw promptly replied, "$10?? You'll take $5," and handed him $5.
My son is too respectful to have backtalked, but I'm a bit irritated. Is it wrong to say something? Is it wrong for my son to refuse to help in the future?
GENTLE READER: Since your son is already so savvy at business, you might educate him on one of its most important rules: Do not mix business with family.
His career seems to be taking off, so perhaps he can now steer away from providing services for family members, or make it pro bono for them in exchange for good references. Miss Manners assures him that what he initially loses in revenue, he will make up in the ability to ignore strong opinions he will no longer feel obligated to agree with.