My children. They are spoiled. This is something I’m keenly aware of. It’s also something that, no matter how hard I try, I haven’t been able to exactly remedy.
I can’t help it. I love them. Yet, I serve them a great injustice by catering to them and answering to as many of their whims as I can. I know. Bad mommy.
But maybe. Just maybe. My children have also learned the lesson of giving.
Yesterday there was a program at my son’s kindergarten. A Chanuka program.
His teacher has a box on display in the class. It’s a large, beautifully wrapped package. On it is a sign that simply says “The Giving Box”. It has been in the class for a few days and the kids have been curious and excited to find out exactly what this mysterious package was.
During this program, the kids all sat in a circle on the floor. The teacher sat with them and next to her was this box.
She finally revealed the contents. Gloves. For the class to wrap with paper that they had decorated themselves. And then, to wrap the gloves, place them back in “The Giving Box” and send them off to children who have no gloves to keep their hands warm during the winter.
They loved this idea. The children’s excitement was obvious and contagious. They wrapped these gloves carefully. They made sure the bow was just so and the candy cane decoration was placed perfectly. They took pride in how their little gifts looked. Then, when everything was to their liking, “The Giving Box” began to fill back up. This time, with presents delightfully wrapped.
It was time to go back to circle time. Now it was the kids turn to receive a gift from the teacher. The excitedly opened their individual packages. Their eyes danced eagerly as they pulled out of the wrapping, their own new set of gloves.
The teacher then gave each child an option. They could keep these gloves that she lovingly picked out to give them. OR. They could put their new set of gloves into that box. Where a child who wouldn’t otherwise get a new pair of gloves would now get some.
Most kids kept their gloves. There were a couple who, with mixed emotion, put theirs generously in that box.
My son did not. He loved those gloves because they were from his favorite teacher.
BUT.
Yesterday, he received a gift from a little girl who wouldn’t be able to attend his birthday party. It was an Imaginext Batman and Joker toy which he already had at home. Toys that he loved and played with constantly.
After he opened the gift and got through his dissappointment over the fact that he already had these. He said to me, in the sweetest voice EVER “Mommy, since I already have these. Is it OK if I put them in the Giving Box tomorrow?”
I told him that was the most perfect idea.
So today, he marched into his class with his bag that contained the Joker and Batman Imaginext toys, along with a pair of new gloves that I had bought for him and he went over to his teacher to explain to her what he wanted to do with the contents of this bag.
He told the little girl who had bought the gift for him what he was doing with it. She was sad at first but then, was just as excited as he was.
His teacher, with a tear in her eye because of how proud she was of my son, took him down to the school office to see if there was wrapping paper for these toys.
I watched him walking with his teacher. I heard her telling him how special this was and how proud she was of him.
And I left. My heart full. Knowing that yes, my children are spoiled. But also, that I am raising good, kind, caring, compassionate and giving human beings. That just because they want something doesn’t mean they won’t give back in turn.
And this Mommy. Couldn’t be prouder.
UPDATE: I picked him up from school today. I made sure to reinforce how proud I am of him. I let him know that what he did was a mitzvah, a good deed. He told me…*sniffle* that he knows. And that his heart is happy.
I know. He’s so awesome.
This brought a tear to my eye. I’m glad you’re posting from work ;). Thanks. I hope my kids turn out as giving and thoughtful.
So sweet. And you’re right.
.-= TeacherMommy´s last blog ..Tids and Bits: They’re Adorable. Well, I Think They Are. =-.
What a mama-moment! I was getting all teary-eyed, too. What a totally wonderful lesson your teacher gave. I just came from my son’s “Christmas” musical – about a mean cowboy who was mean because people weren’t nice, so without any merit or effort on changing bad-guy behavior, everybody else started apologizing and saying they liked him. With an incredulous smile pasted on my face, I cheered my sons cowboy song – but I was so disappointed in the lack of any moral point in the story, no holiday warmth, no true goodness to learn about! I think I want my son to go to your school!
What a wonderful earlyHoliday gift you had!
.-= maryleigh´s last blog ..The Obama Grinch who Almost Stole the Christ out of Christmas =-.
I’d comment but tears are making it hard
.-= Susan´s last blog ..The Name in the Newspaper =-.
What a little sweetheart. Good job, Mama. You did that.
.-= Karen Sugarpants´s last blog ..Thank You. =-.
This kind of thing restores my faith in humanity. Good job, mama. Good job to your generous son, too.
I totally bawled my eyes out at this.
.-= MommyGeekology´s last blog ..Just a quick question for you – =-.
Crying right now . . . seriously. Big fat tears on my cheek. Sniff, sniff.
Crying as I type – could possibly ruin the keyboard! That was absolutely beautiful! Yes, I know my son is spoiled (not as much as some; but still) but he is giving like this as well. Sounds like you are doing a WONDEFUL job as a mommy!
.-= gigi´s last blog ..Let’s Say Thanks to Our Soldiers =-.
No fair making me cry tonight. *too sweet*
.-= Pop and Ice´s last blog ..How We Stole a Lamp by Mistake =-.
Such a sweet little man. You’ve done good mom.
.-= Tara R.´s last blog ..A Christmas wish list =-.
Awwwwww! How sweet he is! You are doing a good job Mommy!
.-= Astaryth´s last blog ..I am a NaBloPoMo Dropout… =-.
Thats so awesome! 🙂 You did good!
.-= Heather´s last blog ..Shiver =-.
Awww, that made me feel choked up. So sweet!
Ah, I love it when they reach that age and finally ‘get it’ on their own. It brings such a sense of accomplishment, that yes, we have taught them well.
.-= Miss Behavin´s last blog ..Men Who Cheat: Sex Addicts or Skilled Gamers? =-.
beautiful. and a testament to the power of giving and sharing!
When kids are being kind, that’s the best cure for mom guilt. And you didn’t even use coersion!
It’s moments like that, that make me think “I AM doing something right!”
Isn’t it incredible how open they are to giving, the little ones, although they can be so darn self-obsessed? My Kindergartener is all about giving our stuff away when his friends visit — although most of the time its his sister’s prized possessions. Good for your boy!
.-= Nicole´s last blog ..My first husband =-.
Ahhh Melissa! *Tears* SO beautiful! It’s so wonderful to see those small people we’ve given everything we have to give something back! You’re a wonderful mama and there’s nothing wrong with a little spoiling!
.-= Amanda @ High Impact Mom´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday: Making Memories =-.
You are indeed a good mom, and he is a testament to how wonderful you are.
.-= Momisodes´s last blog ..Why moms flock to Costco. It’s not just the free samples. =-.
ok, that brought a bit of a tear to my eye! I’m proud of him too! What a great lesson and what a great kid AND mom. Keep up the good work, maybe by spoiling our kids a little, they’re also learning to spoil if you know what I mean.
.-= Nancy´s last blog ..Blog, Bid, Help – Blogging for other bloggers =-.
Oh that is so sweet. It almost made me cry. Thanks for sharing.
.-= Anjanette´s last blog ..That’s not an icicle… =-.
Your son has a good heart. He gets that from his mama!! 🙂
.-= Sugar Jones´s last blog ..Brown Paper Bag of Hope =-.
eyes.pooling. that was so sweet :0)
.-= ciara´s last blog ..Merry SITSmas ’09! =-.
The past few days I’ve read these posts about how people are not donating to certain programs for Christmas because they think poor people are getting too greedy and that they are asking for things that they shouldn’t be asking for.
Reading this post and knowing that your precious little man readily and willingly donated his gifts to someone who needs them more made me feel so good and realize that there are people who recognize the good in all and try to help those in need.
You are doing a WONDERFUL job raising a generous and giving little guy! This brought more than a tear to my eye and I love that you shared it!
OK, he is, hands out, the neatest little kid in the entire world. Which means you must be the most awesome Mom in the world. And that teacher is pretty awesome too.
.-= Janet´s last blog ..Of Pups, Spaceships, a Pumpkin Patch and Marriages and Things =-.
Or maybe hands down. Sheesh.
.-= Janet´s last blog ..Of Pups, Spaceships, a Pumpkin Patch and Marriages and Things =-.
He is just as awesome as his mom! Wonderful story!
.-= The Retired One´s last blog ..Travel Observations =-.