Mrs. Tyler loved being a Mom, it was simply what she did best, everyone knew it. She was always the class Mom, the busiest house in the neighborhood full of kids, and her kids’ birthday parties were always the most fun. But when her kids were grown, she didn’t know what to do. Suddenly it seemed as if she had too much time on her hands. She didn’t like being retired.
She brought a plate of cookies to a friend. “You know, you could sell these,” Julie commented, munching on a thick, chewy oatmeal raisin cookie. Mrs. Tyler laughed. Who would want to buy her cookies? She didn’t want to start business at the local mall selling cookies. “I can’t imagine doing that. I really like making cookies for you and my kids,” she replied.
“Well, your business could make cookies for people who aren’t very good at baking cookies for their kids. What about a care package business for college students? They’d love to get homemade cookies in the mail, especially during exam time,” Julie said. She reached for another cookie. Mrs. Tyler thought. It actually sounded like a good idea. Her cookies would cheer up and encourage students as they studied for exams and enjoyed being college students.
In a few short weeks, Mrs. Tyler’s Cookie Care Packages was begun. And the orders were coming in quickly. She hired several friends to help bake and package cookies for packages. And a friend who was savvy with the computer had ordered her company personalized shipping labels. They looked so polished and professional. The personalized shipping labels had a cookie on them, and the company name and mailing address on them. It was easy to put them on the cookie care packages. Mrs. Tyler was so happy. She was lucky to have such great friends who wanted to see her business succeed.
Exam time was hectic, and Mrs. Tyler’s home seemed to be a nonstop cookie factory for two solid weeks. They baked her famous oatmeal raisin cookies, chocolate chip cookies, chocolate chocolate chip cookies and peanut butter cookies. And they packed and shipped them all, with those great personalized mailing labels. The cookies were on their way.
Mrs. Tyler was exhausted. Perhaps she wasn’t quite ready to have a business of her own. Baking cookies was a lot of work. She had no idea her cookies would be so popular, that so many families would want care packages. Some ordered two dozen or more cookies for their students, knowing they would share with friends. But Mrs. Tyler was happy, knowing she’d helped families make their kids’ lives brighter and happier as they studied.
One day Mrs. Tyler went to the mailbox. A note was there. It was from a student, saying Thank You for the delicious cookies.
Dear Mrs. Tyler,
Thank you for the yummy peanut butter cookies. My friends in the dorm enjoyed them, what a great treat during midterms.
We thought you’d like to know that we all got B grades or higher on our exams. We think it is the cookies! Keep baking!
Yours,
Mary
Mrs. Tyler smiled. She was ready to bake more cookies.
