Making Time for the Elderly

While visiting a home for the elderly recently I noticed that many of them were staring out the window, lost in their own thoughts. I wondered what they were thinking. Were they thinking of what they were going to have to eat that evening at supper? Were they thinking of a happier time in their younger years? Perhaps they were trying to remember what a hug felt like or the touch of a baby’s skin. Many elderly people are lonely, as their loved ones have passed on and they are now all alone. They are the last survivors in their … Continue reading →

Giving Time

One of the most virtuous things that you can teach your children is how to give of themselves to those that are less fortunate. Teaching them how to do this will help them not to focus on themselves only. Volunteering and other acts of kindness will help them to learn many other wonderful and humble traits, such as being patient. Volunteering our time was commonplace in our house. With deliberation I made sure that we had a new project each year to do something nice for someone less fortunate. Some of our projects included raising money for the local animal … Continue reading →

Encouraging To Serve

In our house, serving others and the community was always a big thing. I wanted to raise an unselfish person who believed in giving to others. as this was my Christian belief. As part of our weekly activities, we served in several different ways throughout the years. We took part in several community walks to raise monies for various organizations. Some of which included health issues such as diabetes, multiple sclerosis, arthritis, as well as issues that involved our environment. We also volunteered quite a bit with animal issues. Since we were both big animal lovers this was especially fun. … Continue reading →

How to Make Memorial Day a Teachable Moment

We buried my beloved grandmother last week. My five-year-old daughter and I along with hundreds of other relatives and friends gathered at Veteran’s Cemetery in Hilo, Hawaii, to pay tribute to an unbelievably remarkable woman whose life will never be forgotten. It had been almost 11 years to the day since I attended a burial at Veteran’s Cemetery. The last time we gathered en masse was to say good-bye to my grandfather. My fiercely proud Japanese-American grandfather, who risked his life to serve the United States in World War II, while some of his family members were forced to reside … Continue reading →

Giving Surprise Money

There was a window of time when my kids were younger that I did a pretty decent job of keeping up on the “allowance”–we did not do a set amount each week, but I paid my kids by the month for chores done. We had a “menu” of jobs that needed to be done and the salary that was paid for each job. They could then do the work, keep track of it on an invoice, and I would pay them on my pay days. This worked rather well for a couple years. As they got older, and with two … Continue reading →

Gift-free Birthday Parties

Have you heard about the newest idea in kids’ birthday parties? Gift-free birthday parties. In lieu of gifts, partygoers donate money or specific items to the child’s charity of choice. Teaching kids about giving is a noble cause but I’m not sure if a gift-free birthday party is the answer. Also, at what age should a parent start? In an article in the July 22, 2007 issue of the New York Times, kids as young as four were becoming little philanthropists. Sure, today kids have more gadgets than they could possible ever play with, but still… I have no problem … Continue reading →

Is Your Family Considered a Good Neighbor?

Have you ever wondered what people in the neighborhood might be saying about your family and the activities and adventures that go on at your house? Is yours the house in the neighborhood where there are always extra kids, bikes in the driveway, and skates on the sidewalk; or the one where loud music is usually blaring from the upstairs windows? While it might not be an issue for many, there are ways you can evaluate and consider whether your family is considered a desirable neighbor…or not… Of course, the type of neighborhood you live in can make a big … Continue reading →

Showing Some Appreciation

When was the last time you said “thank you” to all those helpers and “behind the scenes” support for the challenges and realities of being a parent? This morning, I find myself thinking off all the teachers, friends, family members, coaches, and neighbors who have been part of my family’s life. I am under no illusion that my being a single mom means that I do everything myself. There’s absolutely no way! So, I would like to extend a solid “thank you” to all those folks over the years—the parents who helped out with rides and carpools, the coaches who … Continue reading →

Teaching Our Kids About Sharing the Gift of Time

We’ve talked about volunteering here in our “Parents” blog before, but I wanted to write a little about the gift of time—not necessarily the work and effort of community service, but taking the time to be with other people and share ourselves and our company. I think it can be a tough value to convey to our children in such a hustle, bustle world and yet, it is definitely something that our society seems to be lacking more and more. When I was a girl, I was lucky and blessed enough to grow up surrounded by extended family. BUT, that … Continue reading →

Start A Family Tradition: Community Service

I have talked about family traditions before. Here’s a different kind of family tradition, one where your family gives back to the community. I have also talked about the benefits of volunteering, another great way to get your kids involved in the community. Why not start a family tradition of community service? If you look around your community, I am sure you will find things that need to be done and can be done without a lot of expense. For instance, something as simple as picking up debris in your neighborhood or cleaning up a local park can be done … Continue reading →