Saturday, February 16, 2008

Parent's University - Compassionate Children

This week's topic is raising children who are compassionate. I feel passionately about compassion! Ha, ha, ok enough poetry on this rainy day....

We do little things that are part of our daily lives that I hope translate into compassion being a part of our very being. While I struggle with living intentionally in many areas, I feel like I do an ok job modeling this.

As we pull into our school parking lot each Monday, Wednesday and Friday we discuss prayer requests for the day. Then I pray before we leave the car. This has taught us to think of others as we pray for our teachers, friends and also, ourselves.

During the Christmas season my kiddos never went past a Salvation Army kettle without dropping a few coins in, both entering and exiting the store.

The biggest act of compassion will come this April as they celebrate their 5th and 4th birthdays four days apart. Our playroom is filled with toys we do not play with regularly. However, I am not good at purging, as I remember who gave us most of these toys and I am sentimental. That being said, I don't really care to add to the storehouse of plastics now strewn across the floor.

So for their birthday party we are going to ask the guests to help us be compassionate. Our theme is going to be a mini pajama party. The kids will come dressed in their jammies and we will watch a movie, eat snacks and pretend to stay up late.......though no one will do any actual slumbering or spending of the night.

And here is the kicker........instead of bringing birthday gifts we are going to ask each guest to bring a set of new pajamas that we can donate to the local women's shelter.

As I was explaning this idea to them in the car a month or so back we started brainstorming different things their friends could donate. It was my #2 who thought of the pjs for children who don't have them.

I will let you know how the party goes........ I am sure we will have to do some explaining when the actual date arrives, but I have been talking up this idea of giving to others because we have so much.

I hope it is a tradition in the making..........

9 comments:

Nicole said...

That is the coolest idea EVER!!!!!

Emily said...

I am anxious to hear how this goes. What a wonderful idea. I have thought of doing this with my girls as each of their b-days are so close to Christmas.

Bobbie said...

awesome idea!!!

The Secret Life of Kat said...

That's a GREAT idea. I also like that you take prayer requests as you wait in the school drop off line. We pray for each other, but we don't usually pray for others at that time. I'll have to start doing that.

Thanks for the ideas and congrats on losing 6 pounds (according to the ticker)! Way to go!

Becky said...

I've done this but...don't know why I didn't make it a tradition every year! J's 4th yr., we asked for new teddy bears for the Buckner Children's Home in Dallas (orphanage). You've got me thinking now....we need to get back to it!! way to go!

Christine Hoover said...

great idea....we want to come!!!

Sarah Knapp said...

Can I just say, you are the coolest girl I know. You are a complete ROCKSTAR!
I love you and will email you more tomorrow - I am so tired! But good tired!
Love you, S.

Anonymous said...

Of course, always thinking of others!!! :-)

I have a friend who had guests bring a new or gently used book for her to donate to a children's literacy program. Very cool idea for those of us who have trouble with "sentimental toys"!!!

Laura Brittain said...

I broke it to the 5 year old today that for his 6th birthday, we were going to ask for donations from his party guests and that prior to the party we'll research what kind of donations he wants and where he wants them to go. He seemed genuinely excited about it and told me he hopes he gets $50. Not sure he gets the whole concept, but it will beat getting a bunch of toys he doesn't need AND help teach him about doing for others. :o)