Motherhood Monday :: What Children Learn From Volunteering?

**Pleases excuse the images** They were taken with my phone.**

Has there ever been something that you kept telling yourself, “I am going to do this!” and you never get to it. That’s how it was about volunteering with my children. I have been wanting to take my children volunteering for a long time but either it wasn’t the right time or right event. We are not the richest family….wait, we are not rich (YET!) at all. I could actually use some $$ in my account right now, but I want to teach my children that there is always someone less off than them. I want to teach them that it’s good to give back with a good heart, and a pleasant attitude.

This past Saturday my church, Vision For Souls Family Worship Center, held its first Thanksgiving Luncheon. Usually on Saturday’s our Outreach Ministry goes on Fulton Industrial (a known area for prostitutes and low-income housing) and serves lunch, gives away free clothes & toiletries to anyone that wants them. This holiday, they wanted to bring the people inside for a hot meal. They even went to pick people up if they needed a ride. I thought this would be a great opportunity for the whole family to volunteer and teach my children about giving back. Well, it didn’t happen that way.

In a nutshell: The event started at noon. My goal was to be there at 11am. My husband left at 10 with my oldest son to help out. I was just plain running behind! I got there basically at 12:30pm with my baby & Bailee ready to volunteer! Well, they didn’t need me. I walked in the gym and felt bad I was SO late, but it was already a well oiled machine. I was able to put Bailee to work and saw my husband doing his service duties. My 8-year-old is another story. I caught him playing on his phone – not thinking about helping!

What do children learn about Volunteering?

• Put others first
• A sense of community
• Empathy
• Gratitude
• Peer Connections
• Increased Self-Esteem
• Commitment

As the event ended, I left with my 2 sons. My daughter stayed with her dad to do what?? Clean and help out of course!  When they came home my husband told me what a great job Bailee did all day and how many people commented on how she was such a big help. That’s Ms. B for ya!! She is already ready for the next time she can help out. Now, let me work on her brother!

Do your children volunteer during the year? What do they think about it?

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