Never underestimate the generosity of a child.
My eldest daughter, Put Pie, brought me to tears multiple times this week with one action and just the thought of it brings me to tears again. I briefly touched on what she did in this week’s Wednesday Wishes and fellow blogger lisleman left a comment saying that it deserved a post of it’s own. As a proud mama, I cannot resist sharing. So here’s what happened:
On December 8th, I picked up my 6-year-old daughter from school and she told me she needed to talk to me. She proceeded to tell me that she wanted to go home and take the money out of her piggy bank and give it to her teacher. I didn’t understand and asked her if it was a collection for some kind of a fundraiser or party or something and she said no that she wanted to give it to her teacher because her teacher does not make enough money. I asked her how she knew that and she said her teacher told the class. I’m not going to lie, my first thought was, why is the teacher worrying my child about money issues? But then I read a flyer that the teacher sent home with my daughter and it all started to make sense.
Apparently, what is going on is that the teachers are negotiating a new contract, so as a sort of educational protest to show us all how much extra work they do, for this week the teachers are only going to work the hours they get paid for. That means no extra time put in after 3:30 p.m. and it also means homework is just the kids reading on their own. I guess when the teacher explained the situation to the class what stuck out to my daughter was that teachers don’t make enough money for what they do and she felt compelled to do something about it.
I was touched when she told me what she wanted to do, but she’s 6 so I didn’t think she would follow through, but she did. She painstakingly wrote her teacher a note in Spanish (she’s in a bilingual immersion class) telling her that she wanted to give her the money she has saved because she doesn’t need it and the teacher deserves it for being such a good teacher. Then the next morning we went to class early and she shyly handed over her gift.
The teacher read the note and got down on her knees to be on the same level as my daughter and she hugged her and thanked her. She looked at me with these big old eyes full of emotion and I was crying because I’m freakin’ proud of my kid. Then she told my daughter, that although she wouldn’t keep the money, she would honor her generosity by using it to teach the day’s math lesson and that my daughter could then help her by taking the money home and continuing to save it.
My hubby and I worry that we may be spoiling our kids and that they may take things for granted and then my kid does this and I know she’s going to be just fine.
That’s my kid, you guys!!! And I’m crying again…
Put Pie and Luna Pie are amazing little girls, who will grow into amazing women thanks to their wonderful, generous and loving parents. You have me in tears. Love, MoMo
Sometimes lessons come from the most unexpected places. If adults could keep more of that willingness to help even if their help appears too little we would all be better off. That wish thing you post does seem a little magical at times.
oh thanks for the shoutout too.
Hugs, Claudya. You are blessed! Lovely Mami, lovely daughters. Stay blessed. I remember when Vidur was about 2, we couldn’t have a birthday celebration, as in inviting people over as we had just arrived in our new house in a new city. Still, we decided we would make sweets and go around distributing them to the neighbors and say hello – sort of introduction, you know. We did that. In the process, we met people en route and of course, offered them the sweet box.
Then we went back home feeling pretty happy – and Vidur says –
Paati, (grandma), Amma (mom) what about those people at the home for the aged? What about those people sitting outside the temple?” And immediately, we made two more batches of sweets and went to distribute them.
We were so touched that he thought of them – you know we would walk around our area and point out places, and explain things to him. Who knew he had absorbed so much?
And today at the ripe old age of 17, the first thing he wants to do to celebrate anything is to go sponsor meals at the local welfare home. I know we indulge him with what he wants, but we’re also blessed that he has grown up sensible and compassionate.
Hugs to you!
Oh boy, your story made my eyes leak…again.
Beautiful!!! You are definitely doing something right. What a kind gesture and I can just imagine the pride in your heart…….
Well, now I’m crying. Your daughter is very special. I can’t wait to meet her in person. You are a fabulous mami!
XOXO
Traci