Babysitting is another way to be kind. This weekend I babysat my twin nieces so that my sister could get her hair done. I think I get just as much benefit from it as my sister does. I love playing with these babies.
Laurel was so cute playing in her toy box and cuddling with her dog.
Naomi was full of giggles and Koala cuddles.
(I took pictures of Naomi too, but they're too blurry to bother posting.)
I really wanted these bags of clothes to go to someone with a desperate need. Because the holidays had just passed many charities have very limited storage space to be able to accept donations. I made a few calls and those charities with the biggest needs are just really difficult to get to right now or don't have space right now. I cant drive in snow. Since the DI has a location close to me, they were the recipients of these 5 bag fulls of clothes and shoes. They also received mugs, water bottles, pans, plates, etc. and basically any other dish that I could clean out of my cupboards that we don't use.
After making the donation I was talking about it with some friends and I learned about some charities that have been calling and asking for donations and will will come and pick up my donations. Those charities will be first on my list when winter is over and I can do a good spring cleaning.
Alex and I went to the dollar store today. While we were there we noticed a little girl about 4 years old who was trying to get candy from one of those quarter candy dispenser machines. When she opened the little door to take out the candy, her candy fell all over the floor. She was obviously quite devastated and begin crying. Her mom was busy trying to get all of her items up to the counter for the cashier. Her mother gruffly told her not to pick up the candy off the floor. The mother also told her she didn't have another quarter. Her mother turned awsy from the little girl to pay and ignored her cries because she was obviously stressed and busy. While her mother was making her purchases I offered the little girl a quarter from my own wallet. The little girl ran to her mother's side to ask if it was okay to take my quarter. The mother turned to me and smiled and said it was fine. As I handed the girl the quarter I also complimented her and I told her, "Good job for not taking things from strangers without your mom's permission. You're obviously a smart & good little girl." You should have seen the little girl smile. She was glowing.
Hopefully my children learn from this little interaction how easy little acts of kindness can be.
1. Take time to soothe a crying child
2. Give a sincere smile- it literally changes people's attitudes immediately
3. Give a compliment that boosts a child's self esteem
4. Take some stress off a busy mom
Good goes around. I believe it.
Today I went to the mall. It was crazy- busy because of all of the post holiday shoppers. There were a lot of people in line for returns or exchanges. I also had to exchange some shirts at Hot Topic that I had given to the boys. This is where the next little act of kindness comes in handy. Have your receipt ready! You know you're going to need it. The cashier will expect it. And none of the other shoppers want to wait while you dig it out of your wallet. Then, use the same bag to take your new items home. You dont need a new bag. Less bags = less garbage = happier planet. It's amazing these are little acts of kindness that seem like common sense and it's amazing how not everyone has the same courtesy.
