Trash and treasures
Today the trash men were here to collect the trash. Narnia watched them in fascination and when the truck pulled away she said, "Bye bye, Trash Men. I love you!"
They take away Narnia's diapers. I love them, too.
My friend Britney has come up with an idea that I am going to steal like the un-creative rip off artist that I am. INstead of everyone bringing presents for Hannah's 2nd year birthday party, Britney has asked that we bring donations for Nurses for Newborns.
I think this is a brilliant idea. Do our kids really need more STUFF? No. They really don't. Not when other kids out there have so little. Whatever our kids need, we can easily provide. So why not help others?
We will do this for Narnia's birthday party. She will get a gift from myself, Daddy, Marge, and Matt's mom. Otherwise, all other "gifts" will be donated to a program that helps orphans in China.
I encourage other moms out there to do the same thing. If you are middle or upper class and can easily afford all the toys your kids can handle, why not try something like this at your toddler's next birthday party?
They take away Narnia's diapers. I love them, too.
My friend Britney has come up with an idea that I am going to steal like the un-creative rip off artist that I am. INstead of everyone bringing presents for Hannah's 2nd year birthday party, Britney has asked that we bring donations for Nurses for Newborns.
I think this is a brilliant idea. Do our kids really need more STUFF? No. They really don't. Not when other kids out there have so little. Whatever our kids need, we can easily provide. So why not help others?
We will do this for Narnia's birthday party. She will get a gift from myself, Daddy, Marge, and Matt's mom. Otherwise, all other "gifts" will be donated to a program that helps orphans in China.
I encourage other moms out there to do the same thing. If you are middle or upper class and can easily afford all the toys your kids can handle, why not try something like this at your toddler's next birthday party?
posted by Mae Midwest @ 11:05 AM
5 Comments:
At 9/26/2005 11:21 AM,
KD said…
How will you arrange that at the party? Won't Nanria get upset if she can't open the gifts and play with them? I think it's a great idea, I'm just wondering how you will work it logistically.
At 9/26/2005 11:47 AM,
mr midwest said…
KD: currently Narnia has no expectations of parties. She knows what they are, but the only things she really cares about are the cake and the balloons. She will get a few token gifts from the grandparents and us, but the focus of the day will be on having fun and playing with friends.
Managing expectations is the key. We can't seem to do it with our client at work, but I think I can do it at home reasonably well :)
At 9/26/2005 12:20 PM,
Mae Midwest said…
Narnia won't open gifts at her big friend party. She can open her gifts from the family at the family party. Right now, she's isn't aware of gifts anyway. So it won't be hard to pull this off.
Britney's doing the same thing. Her party is in two weeks. Next week is the family party with gifts for Hannah. I'm sure BRitney will explain that the gifts brought to her friend party will be given to sick babies who need help. Knowing Hannah, she'd understand that logic, beacuse she's so sharp. Narnia isn't to that point yet.
We're not sure what will happen at future parties, once Narnia gets the hang of presents. Maybe if she grows up in this environment, she will have an understanding that giving back is just what we do in this family. At least that's the child I HOPE to raise.
We take the same approach to Christmas. She will get a present or two, but she will also get the understanding that it's more important to help others in need.
Let's see how this goes!
At 9/26/2005 12:59 PM,
playswithyarn said…
my entire family is doing that for christmas. the rules are everything has to benefit a charity, so you can count church cookbooks, donations to a charity in someone's name, last year, i got chicks from Hefer International.
a two year old really likes the wrapping and the unwrapping more than the gifts. have them wrap the presents and narnia open them. she will be thrilled. It might also be nice for Narnia to bring the gifts to the shelter and give them to the kids her self. I think that is good for kids to understand giving.
At 9/26/2005 3:44 PM,
Jules said…
I have to say, I think this is an EXCELLENT idea!! Kudos to Mae, or Britney!
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