photo: jordi farres
Over Christmas break, we were sitting down after dinner one night playing Monopoly. My son became pretty obsessed with the game after seeing a commercial for it and he was beyond ecstatic that he found it under the Christmas Tree. As we playing, my kids were getting really wrapped up in all of the money they had. I don’t remember the exact amount that one starts out with nowadays, but it’s upwards of 14 million dollars.
My son was freaking out about that number and started chatting away about what he would really do with all of that money if he had it. Being a young boy, he happily mentioned that he would buy a mansion and a Bugatti. When I asked him what a Bugatti was, he stared at me in astonishment.
“Moooooom! It’s one of the most expensive cars you can buy. I think it’s like 1 or 2 million dollars.” Cue the enormous eyeball roll from my son who has just realized that his Mom knows nothing about cars.
photo: carsten schlipf
Before I knew what was happening, I blurted out, “Well, if you have enough money to buy a mansion and a Bugatti, whatever that is, then you best be supporting some charities too because that means that you have more than enough money to spare.”
He looked up at me and said, “Well, what should I do?”
I know I really shouldn’t have been annoyed, but I said huffily, “Well, for starters, if you own a mansion and a Bugatti, then I sure hope you’ve reached out to your family first and made sure that they’re all taken care of. That means that you pay off everyone’s mortgages, set aside full college tuition for all of the kids, and make sure that everyone has solid health insurance. Then, if you still have more money to spend, before you buy your second Bugatti, you can start a charity that helps whatever you are most concerned about.”
photo: philip sumpter
He started laughing at me and said, “Mom. You’re being ridiculous.” And he was right. I mean, in all fairness, he was just a young boy fantasizing about all of his riches, but I couldn’t resist using this moment as an opportunity to talk about giving back to others. As I’ve mentioned before, our childhood home burned to the ground when we were little and without the kindness of our community, we would have been in dire straits.
So I chided myself on being so test, and said, “You’re right, honey. Mommy just really wants to make sure that you and your sister are always on the look out for ways to help others in need. It’s important for their well-being and ours because being charitable keeps us from being selfish.”
As they started buying up rental properties, railroads and utility companies, my daughter looked up and said, “If I have a lot of money when I grow up, I’m going to rescue dolphins.” Then she quickly bought Park Place. As she triumphantly smirked at her big brother, she said, “And I’d like to do something for sad kids – you know, like the kids you used to work with. Maybe I’d buy them a home to live in.” I gave her a squeeze and a kiss on the head.
photo: sallydell
My son landed on Reading Railroad, completing his RailRoad monopoly, and as he whooped in glee, “He said, okay Mom, if I buy a Bugatti, I’ll start a charity, and you can come work with me.” I laughed and agreed that I would work for him as long as I could build a community garden on the premises and teach people how to grow vegetables in tiny spaces.
When the kids came down to breakfast the next morning, I heard them talking about all of the things they could do to help others and my heart swelled.
Remember when we collected all of those shoes with Mommy and Aunt Daniele? Do you think those kids still wear them?
Remember when we bought chickens for that family somewhere far away? I bet they love scrambled eggs!!
Remember how we donated some of our toys the other day? Do you think they liked my Barbie doll?
I was embarrassed that I was so haughty the night before and their idle chatter reminded me of what big hearts my kids had. It reminded me that I’m on the right track and that they are learning how to pay it forward — and I don’t have to chide them about their fantasies of being a movie star and driving a Bugatti because in the end, I know they’ll do what’s right when the time comes.
So with this, comes a lovely giveaway from us, to one of you, from an organization that gives back to others too. One lucky winner will win (1) beautifully, handcrafted dish from the Heart of Haiti line at Macys, which enables artisans in Haiti to produce beautiful handcrafts that are then sold in department stores throughout the US. Partnered with Fairwinds Trading and BrandAid, artisans receive half the wholesale price of every item in the collection.
Be good, be kind,
Denine
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I help the homeless. Thank you for the chance 🙂
Donating and volunteering.
I don’t have kids but I teach my students to give back by donating change to charities that our school supports.
I don’t have children, but I volunteer with an ESL program!
My son volunteers with me at our local food bank.
We like to volunteer and serve together to help others.
I volunteer regularly . The medical center I work at we have a community outreach volunteer program to empower others and do several volunteer projects for the community. I love working with the local rescue, the Ronald McDonald House, the neighborhood children’s clubs and whenever something is needed.The opportunity it provides for me to give and help others in need imagine things can be better provides a special hope to them and light for me.
volunteer
My kids both volunteer at blood drives, coat drives and work with Relay for Life.
Giving to Toys For Tots is a great way to involve them. Also, volunteering together at a soup kitchen or food pantry is what I like to do.
I don’t have kids, but I work with my nieces and nephews on volunteering! They LOVE going to the animal shelter and caring for the pets! (:
I have them make cards to go along with the things we donate.
I let them pick which charity they would like me to donate to and I let them supplement that amount with money earned from chores.
I don’t have kids, but we support Gaming for a Cure. We get kids and adults together to play games and help raise money for cancer research.
My kids get names from the Angel Tree and they help pick our toys and clothes for the children
and they love to wrap and give the gifts to the Angels names we have taken,
My two older ones work the soup kitchen in our church–Jesse sets up the tables and chair and washes a each one. then fills all the salt and peppers. and sets out the silverware. Katie helps do the cooking. They understand that we are very blessed and that we need to give to everyone that is in need.
We took our children to help in big cities at soup kitchens, shelters, in the parks where there were homeless, and much much more. We were very much in to teaching them to give back. We ourselves don’t have a lot but we have each other and we have so much love. Taking our children on mission trips was such a rewarding experience. They are true givers now.
We go through her playroom and room before her birthday and Christmas to clean it out and donate her toys she doesn’t play with anymore. Every Christmas she always picks an angel to sponsor. She also loves to donate at Christmas to the salvation armys red buckets.
One thing that we have always done is to encourage the kids to donate time helping others. This includes watering a neighbor’s garden or walking a dog.
Going through items to donate- encouraging this behavior
We give to Toys for Tots my daughter picks out the toys that she knows other kids will love and she helps pay with her own Birthday money..
We don’t do much right now but I hope to tell them about Toys for Tots this Christmas! kristiedonelson(at)gmail(dot)com Thank you.
part of each week’s allowance is to be used to donate
We could do a better job in this department and it’s been so helpful to hear other’s ideas!
We do have our children (ages 7,4,4,1) go through their clothes, toys, and book periodically and choose some to donate to charity, then come with us as we drop it off at a local church. They also help me make dinners for neighbors and friends when they are sick or have a baby.
Looking forward to doing MORE with them!
My kids love to visit the local retirement home and bring books and stuffed animals and trinkets to people!
We always sort and clean all the old clothes that we are giving to our local thrift, and then we all go down together to drop them off.
I don’t have kids but growing up my parents always involved us when donated items and doing service projects.
I like to bring my kids with when we donate goods. And I like to shop at Thrift store so they understand where our donations go!
Well- I don’t have any children myself, but I love the idea of taking kids to go volunteer. (if they’re old enough)
i like to donate to the local animal groups
We started early by making it my son’s responsibility to choose a name from the department store Christmas tree and pick out just the right gift. Later, he volunteered to help hand out cookies and juice during blood drives, among many other volunteer experiences.
My daughter and I volunteer together regularly. We especially enjoy our time at a local animal shelter.
When my children was smaller I would make a game of it but now that they are teens they love to volunteer. We are currently serving at a woman and children homeless shelter.
we like to give to toys for tots so we involve by son by letting him pick out some of the toys or ask his opinion on the toys
During the holidays by donating toys!
We volunteer with my parents at a homeless shelter.
I’ve always encouraged my children to donate their old clothes and toys to the less fortunate. We also participated in the Giving Tree at their schools during Christmas time.
My children always accompanied me to volunteer opportunities when they were at home. Now that they are grown, I am proud to say that they continue to volunteer in various capacities, and are teaching their children to do the same. This past Thanksgiving, I had the honor and privilege of serving meals to the less fortunate side by side with my oldest granddaughter.
We teach our kids to keep a portion of what they earn for giving. We help them choose what organizations they want to support.
I have them go through their things each season to find what they do not need for donation.
I like the children to help prepare the food to the take to our Local Food Bank.
we volunteer at the local food bank