{"id":3270,"date":"2011-12-09T01:24:58","date_gmt":"2011-12-09T09:24:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.noomii.com\/blog\/?p=3270"},"modified":"2011-12-20T07:30:33","modified_gmt":"2011-12-20T15:30:33","slug":"philanthropic-lessons-from-two-boys-under-7-years-old","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.noomii.com\/blog\/?p=3270","title":{"rendered":"Philanthropic Lessons from Two Boys Under 7 Years Old"},"content":{"rendered":"
This is a guest post entered in the Spirit of Giving Blogging Contest<\/a>. All opinions are those of the author.<\/div>\n
\"\"

Philanthropy in action - Sol & Grady, all smiles with food for the food bank<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n

Each year on their birthdays, our two little boys turn into philanthropists: they request that their birthday party guests bring something for less fortunate children in lieu<\/em> of a birthday gift for themselves. That\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s right \u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00e2\u20ac\u0153 they forego the excess of shiny new toys and games for the sake of giving to other kids who are not nearly as fortunate as they.[1]<\/a><\/p>\n

Oh we\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00e2\u201e\u00a2ve heard it all \u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00e2\u20ac\u0153 my husband and I \u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00e2\u20ac\u0153 about how they\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00e2\u201e\u00a2re being denied a fundamental staple of birthdays, about how this isn\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00e2\u201e\u00a2t fair to them, and so on.<\/p>\n

And I think, \u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00c5\u201cReally? Are they really missing out on something so important? Or are they gaining something much more meaningful?\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00c2\u009d<\/p>\n

Only time will tell, I suppose, but right now, the answers to these questions can be found by listening to Solomon and Graydon themselves. And I think the rest of us have a lot to learn from what they have to say:<\/p>\n

Lesson #1: \u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00c5\u201cI already have enough stuff.\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00c2\u009d<\/h2>\n

That bears repeating, doesn\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00e2\u201e\u00a2t it? I already have enough stuff.<\/strong> It doesn\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00e2\u201e\u00a2t take much to look around the shelves in their rooms or the toy boxes in the basement or the sports equipment bins in the garage to see that they do indeed already have enough stuff.<\/p>\n

So what would happen if more of us admitted that we don\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00e2\u201e\u00a2t need any more stuff? If we turned our focus away from accumulating more things, and toward giving to others? Would we miss out? Or would we hardly miss it?<\/p>\n

Lesson #2: \u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00c5\u201cI think giving these things to other kids will make them happy.\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00c2\u009d<\/h2>\n

A good reminder that it doesn\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00e2\u201e\u00a2t always have to be about me<\/em> and what I<\/em> need or what I<\/em> want \u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00e2\u20ac\u0153 it can be about someone else and what would help them<\/em> feel good. It can be about realizing that I\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00e2\u201e\u00a2ve got it pretty good, and so I want to try to help someone else. Craig and Marc Kielburger<\/a> have done a fabulous job of turning this concept into an international movement, called Me to We, which is extremely popular with youth (just watch the video below!).<\/p>\n

<\/object><\/p>\n

So what if more of us simply thought more about other people? And about how we can help them or \u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00c5\u201cmake them happy\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00c2\u009d?<\/p>\n

Lesson #3: \u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00c5\u201cI just want to have fun with my friends.\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00c2\u009d<\/h2>\n

This statement is in response to the question, \u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00c5\u201cWhat are you most looking forward to about your birthday?\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00c2\u009d<\/p>\n

Now, our boys do get a few gifts on their birthdays (from us, grandparents, close cousins, each other), so it\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s not that presents are entirely out of the picture at our house. But when it comes to anticipating their birthdays, they most look forward to the experience<\/strong>. The fun with friends, the games, the free play time, the treasure hunts, etc.<\/p>\n

Now Christmas is coming and many of us are putting together lists and making time to shop for gifts. AND, what would be different if we put more of our attention on the experience of the holidays rather than the stuff we give and receive? And what if we put some attention on helping those less fortunate have a better holiday experience themselves?<\/p>\n

The Bottom-Line<\/h2>\n

Are our kids perfect little boys? No, not at all!<\/p>\n

Are we perfect parents? Of course not. I have had more \u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00c5\u201cbad parenting days\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00c2\u009d than I care to count.<\/p>\n

But what I learn from my kids throughout the entire year is that it is simple, easy, and rewarding to give to others. And I like to imagine what the world would be like if more of us followed their lead.<\/p>\n

\n

Notes<\/h2>\n

[1] Here are the details on the boys\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00e2\u201e\u00a2 philanthropic efforts:<\/p>\n

For five years running, our oldest boy (he just turned 7) asks his guests to bring contributions for those Operation Christmas Child<\/a> shoeboxes. The shoeboxes get filled with small toys and other items like pencils, books, and bars of soap, and get shipped to children in developing countries around the world.<\/p>\n

And our younger boy (he\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s 4 \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00bd) asks his party guests to bring contributions for birthday kits which go to families that use our city\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s food bank<\/a>. This way the family gets a box filled with cake mix, icing, candles, balloons, paper plates, cups, small toys, etc. \u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00e2\u20ac\u0153 so that their children can have a birthday party, when they wouldn\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00e2\u201e\u00a2t have had the chance otherwise.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Related Posts<\/H3>