Kelton Balka and Josie Balka
"I always thought that I had a little bit of entrepreneur in me, but if you had told me a few years ago how much of a little entrepreneur Josie was on the inside, I would not have believed you."
-Kelton Balka
How exciting is it to see Kelton's plumbing business growing and thriving? He and Bobby share some details about Tennessee Standard and show off the warehouse space that they are renting. But Kelton quickly changes the topic and beings raving about his wife and her beauty business (web exclusive video below).
Photo/video courtesy of UPtv
"Little"? What if Josie said there was a "little" entrepreneur inside of Kelton?
ReplyDeleteKelton himself said he had a little. His brain was probably just on the word little so he used it again. Sometimes I catch myself doing that.
DeleteKelton said there was a little bit of entrepreneur inside him. He used it for BOTH of them. It wasn't some great indignity that we have to analyze. Goodness.
DeleteHe said he had a "little bit of entrepreneur" inside of himself. I don't think he was being condescending or deragatory towards Josie.
DeleteI genuinely believe Kelton does not intend to sound belittling, but to say he wouldn’t believe how much of a “little entrepreneur” Josie is is quite demeaning.
ReplyDeleteYeah. I agree. It’s cringy.
DeleteIt's not demeaning at all. I think it's endearing. Don't you remember Ricky Ricardo told people his wife was "a great little cook"?
DeleteThat's not what he was saying. He was speaking in a parallel way about both of them.
DeleteUsing the term “little” is a southern thing and quite common in the area. For example “Aren’t you quite the little homemaker” or “Just look at you being a little Jack of all Trades.” It’s actually taken as a compliment by most people in the area.
DeleteI feel like his saying he's very proud of her and all she's accomplished shows that he was not being demeaning.
DeleteHe may have been surprised with Josie if she'd not shown any previous interest in starting a business. Not everyone has entrepreneural interests, or they show themselves as circumstances are presented. I really doubt that he meant to demean her in any way.
Delete1:29. First, I Love Lucy was a sitcom. Second, Ricky gave Lucy an allowance. In real life a husband calling his wife’s business endeavors “little” is as appealing as a husband giving a wife an “allowance”.
DeleteThirdly, he used the term "little" about himself as well, and this is a silly discussion.
DeleteThank you.
DeleteAwe!! Kelton is a “little entrepreneur” too! He started his own “little” plumbing business.
ReplyDeleteMO- Oh, I really don't think Kelton meant anything by it... Sometimes looking back at the footage you realize things should have been said differently. But what I've noticed is that Bobby is always included in the conversation about Kelton's business. Did Bobby buy into the pluming company? Is he part owner? I thought he just worked for Kelton. :o)
ReplyDeleteI suspect with the successive amount of babies they will have, Josie's "entrepreneur-ship" will fade away. With more and more children, it will not be easy for her to be available when her brides need her to be there.
ReplyDeleteJosie has a lot of family near by who can help watch the children when she's doing a wedding. Having her own business is more flexible than having a 9-5 job. Her other sisters, who have more children, are running the Bates Sisters Boutique.
DeleteOf course it will (IF she wants that business to continue); millions of family juggle work and children with——-childcare! They have her siblings at their fingertips to care for their children!
DeletePeople are looking for ways to be offended. Kelton started by saying he had a little entrepreneur in himself. He used the word little for both Josie and himself.
ReplyDeleteIf you’re looking to be offended, you will certainly find a way.
Agree. People don't have to jump on every "little" thing people say.
DeleteAgree with both 10:06 and 10:16!!!
ReplyDeleteAlso, how busy could Bobby be with his responsibilities that they need another employee doing the same job? And, the exaggerated job titles are kind of ridiculous!
I thought the same thing @10:16.
ReplyDeletePerhaps these young men are staying home to help with the older ones; Bobby has two older and Kelton has one. And, as a single person running an office, it's always good to have another employee so that someone else knows the procedures. A title is just that; a title. To each his own, but I don't think ridiculous applies. I, for example, am a 1 person office with the title of Office Manager. There is no staff under me, but when my boss walks out of the office for other business, he knows I manage everything.
DeleteI think the use of the word “little” in reference to not only her but to himself, is just a way of humbly downplaying or making light their obvious gifts and talents.
ReplyDelete"Little" is demeaning. What if Josie called him a "little entrepreneur?" People would say she's being disrespectful to her husband. By the way, I Love Lucy is very mysogynistic. Ricky treated Lucy like a child, and even doled out emotional, verbal, and physical punishment. I hope no one finds spanking or verbally threatening their wife acceptable today.
ReplyDeleteWell, then he was demeaning himself too. 🙄
DeleteJosie and Kelton have both accomplished so mush since they got married, had Willow, Bought a new house, Started new Businesses, and now have Hazel!
ReplyDeleteThey are such great people! May God bless them!