Bryce Becton wasn’t like most 11-year-olds who ask their parents for money whenever they wanted something. He understood that his mom, Gloria, was a single mother raising four children, and money didn’t come easily.
“He really just wanted to make some money on his own instead of asking me all the time,” Gloria said.
One afternoon, she looked at him and suggested, almost casually, “Why don’t you just grab the lawnmower, go outside, and earn yourself some money?”
Bryce didn’t hesitate. He took her advice, rolled out the lawnmower, and got to work.
Before long, his friends Jordan and Samir spotted him pushing the mower and decided to pitch in. The three boys worked side by side in the summer heat, determined to make something of their small venture.
And then, something unexpected happened.
A neighbor noticed their dedication and posted a photo of them working hard on social media. The post took off—spreading far beyond their University City neighborhood.
“It went viral,” Gloria said. “Ever since then, they’ve been getting calls and texts from people wanting their lawns done. Some are even from places so far away, we just can’t get to everybody.”
The buzz caught the attention of a kindhearted supporter who donated a lawnmower to help the boys keep up with the demand.
They named their venture Young Kings Lawn Care Service, and their “office” was Gloria’s small four-door Nissan Versa. It wasn’t exactly built for the job—especially when they had to cram in three lawnmowers, a weedwhacker, a blower, and all the necessary cords.
“It’s kind of hard,” Gloria laughed. “We’re stuffing everything into my little car, but we make it work.”
Bryce, one of Gloria’s middle children and the youngest member of the crew, has shown an entrepreneurial spirit well beyond his years. When he’s not mowing lawns, he enjoys playing video games like Roblox. But when it comes to his business, his drive is clear.
“My motivation comes from my mom,” Bryce said.
In the past, he would ask her for things, and she would have to say no—not because she didn’t want to give him the world, but because sometimes wants had to wait behind needs.
Now, things are different. Young Kings Lawn Care Service even has repeat customers. Gloria doesn’t have set prices, preferring to give estimates depending on yard size.
The only limitation now? Transportation. Gloria sometimes has to turn down jobs simply because they can’t haul the equipment far enough.
But she’s confident that will change.
“We’re trying,” she said. “We want to service more people—and that’s coming sooner rather than later.”
For Gloria, it’s more than just a summer business. It’s a lesson in independence, hard work, and making something from nothing. And for Bryce, it’s proof that a little motivation—and a push from Mom—can grow into something extraordinary.
