Motherhood Lessons-Always Give Back To Others

A couple of years ago around November I remember asking my kids for their Christmas lists as relatives were wanting to know what they wanted for Christmas. As my girls headed off to their bedrooms with the Sears wish book tucked under their arms they began dreaming and making their big Christmas lists! Christmas was beginning to be a hard time of year for my husband and I because the girls had almost everything under the sun, between their Grandparents spoiling them and us too we could not think of anything to get them. So I did not expect huge Christmas lists this year.

A couple days later at dinner time the girls with smiles on their faces came bounding down the stairs. They had completed their lists and were so happy.  As my husband and I began reading their lists one thing quickly came to our mind, our girls were spoiled! The items on their lists were way out of our price range. Nothing on their lists were reasonable and everything was so high priced I was shocked!

The next day I was talking with my friend about this dilemma and she said her kids too had asked for the sun and the moon, and her husband’s hours had been cut so she didn’t know how she was going to be able to afford Christmas for her kids at all. And especially not what they had asked for on their Christmas lists.

That is when a light went on in my head! We were going to teach our children the importance of giving back and being thankful for what they did have. Calling a local shelter in St Louis we made arrangements to have our children come in with us to help serve a meal to homeless and less fortunate people.  So the night before we were to volunteer my friend Diane and I sat our kids down and told them how they would be spending their Saturday afternoon. We watched as the kids eyes became as big as saucers.

By nine in the morning we were on our way to the shelter to help out, when we got there the kids learned all about the shelter and how they served a lot of children in the area and that sometimes that was the only hot meal the kids would get on the weekends was at the shelter. Looking over at my oldest daughter I saw tears forming in her eyes. That was the best couple of hours I ever had with my children,  they learned that they’re so blessed to have what they do have – a warm home, food in their belly, toys to play with and more!

Since that day my girls have over the years been the most loving and caring kids, my oldest has volunteered her time to help kids after school with homework. She helped me one year coach girls cheerleading just to help the girls out, she even extends this to her own job by staying late to help others. My girls are constantly giving back to others, helping other people out and are the most giving and caring kids I know, I am honored to say they are my girls!

This post is for the Motherhood Lessons Meme. I am now tagging:

• Cathy @ Cathy’s Creations
• Shynea @ Penny Pinching Diva
• Cara @ The Household Helper
• Crystal @ The Thrifty Mama
• Tina @ The WAHM Biz Tips
  

Other Great Posts You Might Enjoy:

1. Motherhood Lessons #1
2. Motherhood Lessons #2
3. Motherhood Lessons: Even Big Mistakes are Forgivable
4. My Biggest Mistake – Motherhood Lessons
5. Motherhood Lessons: To Be Strict or Not To Be Strict?