Real Stories. Real Advice. Real Moms.
Suzie Says: How do we teach our kids to care?
I just returned from Quito, Ecuador after a tour of several Compassion International projects. I've traveled to many countries and seen poverty, but for a few of those on the trip this was their first exposure.
Later, one of the women struggled to express in words how this trip had affected her.
"How do I go home and teach my children to appreciate what they have?" she asked. "How do I ever buy another toy, or give in to a whim for a material item, when so many have so little?"
Great question.
And also a complex one. For your child isn't responsible for third world poverty. He or she isn't big enough to carry the worry and concern over whether a child eats tonight or is huddled in a bed with seven others on a cold, mountain night. But at the same time, we do want to teach our children to care for others, to not be materialistic, and to grow into responsible young adults who make a difference.
Teaching our children to care begins with us. It's tangibly caring with dignity. It's not just shelling out a gift at Christmas or handing $5 to a homeless man. It's truly caring. It's seeing the person beyond the need. It may be volunteering on a regular basis at a homeless shelter, or mentoring a youth who needs a little extra attention, or sacrificially buying food for a food pantry at your church or in your community.
Second, involve your child in those things. Don't preach. Just show them that we have an opportunity to change our world, or maybe just our little corner of our community, through caring. Give them a broader perspective. That's when our children begin to see a world beyond their own, and needs beyond their own.
Statistics show that in this area moms have the biggest influence upon a child.
Start today mom. Care with dignity, no matter what that looks like. I promise that your child is watching.
Tags: caring, child, compassion, poverty, teaching
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Comment by Sara Broers on November 13, 2009 at 2:02pm - How do we teach our kids to care? I believe it's probably by our example. I'm thinking back to last Christmas- our small group (7 boys & 2 adults) of my son's Confirmation Class purchased gifts and delivered them to a Grandma of two little boys that would not have had any presents at Christmas if we would not have given. The Grandma accepted them with tears in her eyes and genuinely thanked each boy, individually- these are the types of things that we need to show our kids HOW to do!
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Comment by T. Suzanne Eller on November 7, 2009 at 7:31am - I love what you are doing on CML. : )
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Comment by Carla Williams on November 6, 2009 at 10:19pm
- Suzie--I also want to tell you that your article in Proverbs 31 Woman this month was great and encouraging. God has knitted each for a purpose and your article about fulfilling our dreams and living out our passions helps us find that purpose. Thanks! AND Thanks for letting me fuflill my passion by blogging on CML! Hugs!
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- Thanks Suzie for this post and welcome home. Because our family took in homeless, battered wives. at-risk-teens my kids (plus we supported World Vision children) my kids grew up with very big hearts and caring about others. That's one reason Josiah chose to adopt before having his own children. But that's really out of the norm, and grandkids don't have that experience. Therefore, my kids have to make a point to teach their own children what just sort of came naturally in ours.
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