An axolotl is a very cute, very pink (or other colour), underwater salamander that my 9-year-old is now officially obsessed with. I must admit, I find it quite cute too. But – not cute enough to have it as a pet right now when she asked.
I’ll admit, my first instinct was “no.” The thought of one more thing to keep alive—especially if the novelty wears off—was daunting. But then I remembered: aren’t pets supposed to be the ultimate tool for building responsibility?
So, as a shameless corporate junkie, I decided to treat this like any other high-stakes project. I told her, “If you want an axolotl, you need to present a Business Case.”
I explained that a Business Case is just a way to tell “approvers” why your idea (in this case, getting an axolotl) it is a great idea. It’s writing down why this is a good idea, what we need to buy and the cost, and how she plans to do the work and contribute to the cost so I don’t end up cleaning a tank on a Sunday night. And money don’t just grow on trees.
She was determined but had no idea where to start. Honestly, do most adults? I also don’t know what does a good business plan look like from a 9 year old perspective. So, I used a quick prompt to hand her a “Professional Starter Kit.” If you’ve got a kid angling for a pet, use it as an opportunity to teach them some practical skills, build responsibility and use to AI to turn a “please, please, please” into a professional pitch.
⚡ Sanity-Saving Prompt 1 : The “Executive Template” (For the Parent to give the Kid)
Use this prompt to generate a clean, simple worksheet you can print out and hand to your child:
“I am a parent of a 9-year-old who wants a pet axolotl. Create a simple, 1-page ‘Pet Business Case’ template I can give to her to fill out. Use simple headings like: ‘The Project’ (What is it?), ‘The Why’ (Why is this a good idea?), ‘The Startup Costs’ (What do we need to buy?), and ‘Daily Operations’ (How will you care for it?). Keep the tone encouraging but professional.”
⚡ Sanity-Saving Prompt 2: The “Benchmark” (For the Parent’s Reference)
Use this prompt to see what a ‘good’ 9-year-old response should look like. You got to be fair to your kid as well not to expect it to look like a business plan from a profession with 20 years experience!
“Generate an example of a completed ‘Pet Business Case’ for an axolotl, written at a 9-year-old’s level. Show me what a well-researched answer looks like for the costs, water temperature needs, and cleaning schedule. This will be my ‘Gold Standard’ to check her work against.”
TIME SAVING: 60 MIN
Why this matters: We aren’t just getting a pet; we’re building a mindset. By giving her the template, I’m providing life skill with structure, but she has to provide the effort. Whether the axolotl joins the family or not, she’s learned that a “big ask” requires a big plan and comes with commitment and responsibility.
Has your kid ever “pitched” you for a pet? I’m curious if any other parents have used “corporate” tactics at home! If this template saves you from a 2-hour circular argument, let me know. Drop a “Saved 60 minutes” in the comments for our Community Time Saved counter.
— Jo
The Prompt Parent 
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