Disclosure: I have partnered with YMC and Local Love and have received compensation for this post. All opinions are my own.
When I think about the things I hope my children to be, it ultimately boils down to a very short list. A list of two things, as a matter of fact.
I hope my kids are:
- Strong
- Kind
I hope they’re strong enough to stand up for what’s right. I hope they’re strong enough to follow their own path, dream big dreams, and stay true to themselves.
I hope they’re kind. I hope they love others, are quick to lend a helping hand, and look for ways to serve their community.
Annnnnnnnnd then reality hits, I change four diapers, someone barfs in the car, we have an epic throw-down tantrum in the middle of a grocery store, and I wonder seriously?! How can I even BEGIN to make that happen?!
Well, here’s what I’ve learned about trying to teach anything to a toddler. You need to:
- Make it brief
- Make it fun
- Make it relatable/relevant
So, if I want Emmett to understand what serving others means? I better find something he can get involved with (and accomplish) quickly, I better get in there with him and have some crazy fun while we do it, and it better be something he understands and connects with.
Which means, packaging up donations of our gently used and loved baby toys, clothes and gear together (reliving a few ‘I remember playing with this’ memories along the way), and then hopping in the car and dropping off the donations to The New Mom Project together is the perfect activity! The New Mom Project is a fabulous Toronto-based charity that believes that every new mom should have the basic necessities to care for their babies. And frankly, I can’t think of a better reason to donate than that!
When we package up and drop off a donation, Emmett understands that the items he once used can be used and loved by someone else. He physically helps bundle the items up which is actually super fun for him, and then he gets to see the impact of his kind gesture through the moms and babies at the New Mom Project who will be taking and loving some of his things! They’re people right in our community, which makes it so relevant for him (and for me). And possibly the most important, we do it together. Because if I want Em to embrace a character trait, I better be doing my very best to emulate it every dang day.
So, if you’re in our shoes, and you’re on the hunt for some fabulous (and easy!) ways for your family to give back in the GTA, please please pleeeeease go check out Local Love. They have a fabulous weekly newsletter that will inspire you with stories of local changemakers in our community, and they’ll give you tips on fun ways that you can give back, even if you only have five minutes to spare! Sign up for the Good News Letter, and trust me when I tell you – it’ll quickly become your favourite thing to read on Saturday, and it’ll inspire your family in all the best ways.
Want to read a bit more about why we love Local Love? Check out some more details HERE!
