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| What is the long-term life of this girl, walking the fields in northern India look like? |
I recently came across a
post by a former co-worker (who happens to be an excellent motivator), that
reminded me of the importance that we, as parents, can place on things that
really are not important. Romeo’s
post, entitled "The little boy with the Orange Water" and how his 4 year old was willing to give up money for a video game so another
little boy could have clean water was very moving.
How can parents teach giving if they don't give themselves?
While we prepare for a rummage sale we have talked about
giving up some toys that we may not use so we can pay for a waterslide that we
found on Craigslist. But really, is that equation really enough? What am I
teaching besides the importance of not having too much stuff? Yes it is better
than just indulging and giving everything a 4 year old could want (and that is
a heck of a lot), but really… the whole “first world problem” comes into play
here. How do I, as a parent who wants to instill a sense of interconnectedness
and giving do that without exposing too much horrors of the world? Or, am I
doing a disservice and sheltering when, instead, I could be teaching?
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| What does education mean to the school girls in this picture? |
Back to Romeo’s post – it was so moving that I’ve decided
that even though my 4 year old’s subtraction skills aren’t entirely to a point
where she can understand saving and giving, I want to start having her look at
money differently. Before she was born I read an idea (no idea where!) and came
up with a plan for allowance. We’ve yet to fully decide if we’ll do any ‘take
away’ for not putting away her toys (so far I’m against it, but not entirely),
but I do want her to see the value of money. The allowance plan goes like this. For my 4
year old, she gets $4 every week. With that $4, she has to save $2, give $1 and
she can spend $1. She understands how the money can add up, and some basic
subtraction, but I want her to understand the importance of other people and the
importance of giving.
We can’t just do a second glance when we someone in need.
We need to look and see what our soul is telling us and driving us. For what are
we yearning? What truly matters? I hear a lot about saving for retirement, but
I hear less about saving the world for one person. If I donate $30 a month so a
child can go to school and have fresh water, isn’t that more important than me having
a middle class life 30 years from now when I retire?
Now, I'm not saying that we need to just give all the time without second glance. Many programs out there are more enablers than problem solvers, but when basics needs aren't being met (education, sanitation, food), the story is much different.
Money may make people more comfortable, but it doesn’t give
you happiness. I’ve had a “host pack” delivered from House Party
for “Because I am
a Girl” from Plan International. I
also recently stopped my giving to SOS Children’s Villages, and I really think
it is time for me re-think my stopping and start up again. As cliché as it sounds, when we give we
receive so much more back. Knowing that
you’re helping someone else with a hand up in life not only helps their
community, it creates a safer, more loving world.
