Note to Self: Don’t expect adult reasoning from children. This reminds me of a birthday invitation my daughter received from the manager of our hotel while we were in Bermuda for an extended period of time. Her six year-old asked that she receive donations to a hospital children’s ward in lieu of presents. Wow! She was sensitive to the concept of charity, no doubt, because she is in a wheelchair herself. It was the selfless act of a young girl who has had to grow up too fast.
It didn’t make much impression on our then 3 ½ year-old, but I wonder if we could persuade her to do the same for her birthday next month. I could probably get away with it if I applied enough pressure, as she is a sensitive and caring child, but the gesture would really be a product of my more adult value system, not hers. I am fairly positive that most kids would be fine about giving up a gift or two, so long as they still got their own.
I have been receiving small, decorated and torn-edged notes on my bedside table for the past few weeks, suggesting what we might consider getting for her. She presently has a thing for cows and bean bag cushionsfor her bed. She has also witnessed my buying for, and hiding until her younger brother's birthday, without a complaint. My nearly “double-digits” daughter is still innocently starry-eyed about the mystery of what she will receive from her best friends and parents this year. I have no business messing with that.
What do you think about children giving to charity? Have they ever been moved, by an ad campaign or news item, to suggest it themselves? Last year, the televised trips to Africa for Red Nose Day had my daughter in tears, begging to make a donation. We had her phone up and give the credit card details for "her" donation. Maybe this year, some of it will come from her piggy bank.
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