|
Monday, December 31, 2007 7:10 AM
"Mom," my adult daughter sighed into the phone yesterday, "if you had taken me somewhere fun when I was little and I whined and didn't appreciate it, would you refuse to take me the next time?" Ah, I remember those days, the vacations that were so filled with fights and whining kids that you vowed never to take them on vacation again.
Now my daughter Joy is on the other end of the parent/child seesaw. She and her husband have two foster kids they hope to adopt who are 7 and 3. A 7-year-old has a lot of energy for whining. And she's done it not only about their day in Dollywood but about her Christmas presents as well. It's exasperating Joy, but it's making me laugh and I'm finding it hard to be sympathetic. (What goes around, comes around!)
But seriously, how do we raise grateful kids? It's not easy in a world inundated with advertisements telling our kids (and us) all the things they (we) must have to be happy. No amount of things ever seems like enough; we always want one thing more.
I discovered a website (www.sixseeds.org) with ideas that can help you teach your kids by serving others and, hopefully, help them learn to be more grateful. The site has great parenting resources and service projects for the family. Check it out.
I was introduced to Six Seeds by my friend Nancy French, whose Harvard-trained lawyer husband joined the military as a Judge Advocate General. (JAG—remember that TV show? Yeah, well this is not nearly so glamorous.) David is currently in Iraq, and life's not so great for our soldiers over there, Harvard-trained lawyer or not.
David and Nancy have started a project called Operation Send-a-Box to provide care packages for every soldier in his squadron. Their project is one of those sponsored by Six Seeds (www.sixseeds.org/projects/projects.php?page_function=detail&project_id=9). It has specific requirements, but it is a great project to do with your kids. They can help you shop and then write a letter or draw a picture for the soldier who would get your box. If you enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope, you may even get a letter in return. The boxes need to be sent by February 15, so get packing.
When your kids see people get excited about receiving sheets and toothpaste and magazines, they just might become a bit more grateful for the many things they have, including all those gifts they got for Christmas. Just don't hold your breath for a whine-free vacation; I think that's asking a little too much.
Past Entries No comments
|