. . . it’s learned when your mommy takes away your birthday
presents and makes you cry . . . oh wait, did I just say that out loud?!
The other day I went to a meeting for a wonderful
philanthropic organization. While there,
a woman made an extraordinary statement that really resonated with me. She said “philanthropy is not innate, it’s
learned.” I truly believe this whole
heartedly – I learned from my mom who I remember letting me put dollars
in the red buckets and adopting children from the “wish trees” at the mall AND, from both my parents who I can’t get to stop meeting with the
Development Officer at their alma mater who keeps convincing them to give their
University all of my inheritance. Oh,
wait, I said that out loud too, didn’t I??!!
During this season of giving, I began reflecting on what I might be teaching my girls (other than cuss words, smart@$$es)! And then I realized that as with anything in this Runamuk household, it hasn't always been pretty! The intent is there, but the execution is sometimes lacking! :-)
6 months ago following a particularly annoying episode of
cleaning up one too many naked Barbies (who I'm pretty certain have not had clothes since the girls opened them), 15 too many doll shoes (15 individual
shoes, NOT pairs), and 10 Happy Meal toys that the girls haven’t touched in 2
years, I decided that for the girls’ birthdays, rather than gifts from their
friends, they would tell their friends about a charity to which they wanted to
donate items. Of course, when I informed the girls of this, you would have
thought I took away their birthdays . . . oh wait . . .
The screaming, yelling and crying in the backseat of the car
could be heard for miles!
Of course, it wasn’t until a few days later that I realized
this idea may have been the result of a particularly bad case of PMS. But, I had already committed, and the more
people I told about it, the more encouragement I got. So, I decided we were going for it!
But, as we come to the end of another giving season, mommy decided to share what she learned in 2013 about charity that's Runamuk:
2)
When you do a philanthropy project involving
candy, make sure you have a candy scale.
For if you do not, you may find that you have to weigh YOURSELF along
with the candy and you have a strict rule about NEVER getting on a scale!!
After this mommy realized she needed to stop
playing “one for you, one for me” with the children’s Halloween candy.
3)
Don’t ask the baby to find a canned food
stop! For is you do, a fight will break
out when the Id is convinced that she read “candy food” and the Ego KNEW it was
“canned food”. Of course, mommy was
confused and thought she needed to go get some candy to drop off!
4)
When checking your iAllowance app to see how
much allowance your child has, make sure you don’t mistake her “charity” bank
for her “allowance” bank. I’ll be D@mned
if I didn’t allow the Ego to purchase waaaaaaay too much candy at the movie
theater because I thought she had $16 in allowance. She actually had negative $2 and has been trying to
pay it off ever since! Oooops (and yes,
I am that mean mommy who makes her pay it off rather than forgive the debt even
though it was my fault she overdrafted.
Girlfriend never should have had that much candy to begin with!)
Since the Superego’s birthday last May (when we first
instituted our “no presents” birthdays) we extended our project to any party
that we have at our house, including all of the Camp Runamuks!
Below is a recap of the 2013 donation projects it has been my privilege to see the girls AND their
friends provide (with links to the wonderful organizations)
 |
| 14 Toys for Toys for Tots |
 |
| 18 pairs of shoes and 8 games for foster children at the Polinsky Children's Center (I wish I could show you the picture of all the kids with the Polinsky representative-I don't have permission from all their parents, or I would. It's truly humbling to see all the kids who participated). |
 | ||||
100 food items and paper goods to serve 32 for food drives and thanksgiving baskets; and
35 POUNDS of candy for military troops (again, I wish you could see the picture with the 35 kids who participated - truly extraordinary)
|
And one project I didn't get a photo of -
School supplies for children on an Indian Reservation
And, with their iAllowance Charity bank accounts, each of
the girls chose an end of year project:
Superego – Toy for Toys for Tots + plus an $8.12 donation from
the Superego’s charity bank account to buy more toys (all her idea, by the way)
Ego - Cat and Dog food and treats from the Helen WoodwardAnimal Center Wish List + $8.12 donation to the “greatest need”.
Id - Canned food for the “candy food drive”!
With extraordinary gratitude for the gifts in my life and
the ability to watch my girls and their friends pay it forward, I wish you a
joyous and magical holiday season!
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