Alabama mother and son left 'shocked' after his lemonade stand was reported to state labor department

The department responded after a complaint was filed over the stand violating child labor laws

An Alabama eight-year-old had his sights set on Disney World and decided to open up a lemonade stand to help him get there. However, he and his mother received a surprising call that added a wrench in their plans.

Cam and his mother Cristal Johnson were contacted by the Alabama Labor Department over a complaint that the lemonade stand violated child labor laws. 

"Needless to say, I was very shocked and saddened by the fact that anyone found wrong in what I was trying to do. I was trying to do a good thing, give back to my community and to find out that someone insinuated that I was trying to labor minors, that was…it was pretty sad," Cristal said on "Fox & Friends First" Thursday. 

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Eight-year-old Cam said he started his lemonade stand as a way to make money to go to Disney World. 

"I tried to ask my mom, ‘can I go to the Disney World?’" Cam told host Todd Piro.

After Cam started his lemonade stand, his mother Cristal put up a flyer encouraging other kids to take up a "one-day apprenticeship" at the stand to learn the value of hard work and money.

The flyer said Cristal and Cam were looking to have two kids joins as a "smiler" and "greeter."

alabama mother and son left shocked after his lemonade stand was reported to state labor department

Cam's mother Cristal Johnson put out a flier seeking other kids who wanted to participate in a one-day apprenticeship as a "smiler" or "greeter." (Fox News)

"I was trying to teach them exactly what I'm trying to teach my son, just how to handle money. Customer service skills. Teach the little boys how to shake hands correctly. And just little things like that. That's all I was trying to accomplish," Cristal said.

Cristal received a call from the state Labor Department after a complaint was filed against the stand for violating child labor laws. 

Cam said he "got sad" after learning about the pushback over his lemonade stand. 

The Alabama mother said while she does not know who reported her flyer or son's lemonade stand, she is trying to stay positive. 

"The first thing that comes to mind is who could dislike us that much to go that far? And I just have no idea. But I'm sure that whomever did it is pretty regretful right about now."

"Thank you," Cristal said, in a message to whoever complained. "Because of that person, it had the opposite effect of what they were trying to do. It propelled us even quicker in our endeavor. So I don't harbor any ill will. I thank them and I hope they have some remorse themselves for doing what they did."

Madeline Coggins is a Digital Production Assistant on the Fox News flash team with Fox News Digital.

Authored by Madeline Coggins via FoxNews June 28th 2023