It’s been snowing a lot here in Salt Lake. We probably got a good foot in the last week and with the way this winter has gone, I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if it just kept coming. One of the downsides to the never-ending snow is that the driveways and sidewalks need to be shoveled almost constantly. This week our sweet next door neighbor not only did our driveway but all of our sidewalks as well. It was such a pleasant surprise to go out to my car and not get stuck in the driveway this time. We have a rather large driveway as it is, so this was way above and beyond in the kindness department. Plus, he gave me a great opportunity to talk to my son about service.
While he is only 4, he already has a strong grasp on this concept. From the time he was teeny-tiny he’s always wanted to help. He loves to vacuum, sweep floors, mop, do laundry, iron, clean the bathrooms, pretty much anything and everything. This is an innate quality for him. It makes him feel good when he’s helping other people. He sees how happy it makes them and in turn he gets warm fuzzy feelings and a big smile on his face. I know this, because he tells me frequently.
He’s also really big on this whole concept of team work. He loves to “help” take the garbage out and fold the clothes because that means we are doing “team work.” This was something he learned at preschool and has carried over at home.
One of the greatest things you can do as a parent is to model kindness in your own home. Never say anything negative about your other child’s parent. Show kindness to your neighbors and look for opportunities to serve. The more your child sees you doing the more they will want to follow in your footsteps.