Being a new mum, while very rewarding can also be very isolating … couple that with moving to a new town and you can imagine how lonely for friendship I was during the first few months of my oldest son’s life in the new town we’d just moved to.
So, in search of friends for myself and my son, I pushed aside the worries of becoming a suburban, keeping up with the Joneses, bunko-loving, Stepford wife and joined the local mother’s group.
And. I. Never. Looked. Back.
I made the most wonderful group of friends through this little mom’s group I joined 13 years ago. And, our children are the same. Over the years we’ve watched them grow up together and counted our wrinkles and gray hairs!
For a few years now, the same group of friends, instead of exchanging gifts have been having our kids give back to charity specifically at Christmas time. This year, we organized for them to help out at the local soup kitchen.
A couple of Sundays ago I arrived with my two older boys armed with our food donations unsure exactly what to expect other than to know there would be many people in need. The food was being donated by a local Italian restaurant on that day so there would be no need for the kids to be peeling potatoes — it took a while, but they were all put to work.
And, how.
They worked hard and were so kind to everybody there … even the grumpy lady volunteer who didn’t like them helping her with her toiletry donation table! They helped set up, serve food, pour lemonade and clear the tables. They spoke to those sitting alone and gave encouraging smiles to everyone. We were all so very proud of each and every one of them.
It was very eye-opening for my boys to see that the homeless and needy are people just like you or me. I think what really touched them was to see the small children, sitting there, smiling and eating everything that was put before them without complaint. Needless to say, they came away from it all feeling very humbled and thankful … as did I.
What made me most proud was that on the way home, they asked if we could go back on a regular basis to help out. I think just hearing that was the best Christmas present this mum could hear.
What a great idea and I think that you have done a great thing with helping them see helping others is a reward.
I am proud of them and I don’t know them!
That’s an excellent idea, and great that your boys want to keep going back.
Awww kaz I welled up when I read that! I love those boys they have such beautiful and loving hearts! Sign us up next year! Love you Merry Christmas!!
We’re all programmed to do what we think we should do at Christmas, not what really makes us happy, what a brilliant alternative to buying gifts. Well done young men.
That is so great that the boys took to helping so well! I plan on doing something similar with my kids someday.
How sweet! I used to work in a homeless shelter and have forgotten what it was like to feed the homeless.