We helped prepare meals for the homeless last Saturday. We were there to represent our Boy Scout pack, which I’ve decided needs stronger leadership. The Girl Scouts, on the other hand, are a well-oiled machine of productivity and overachievement. We were told to show up at 10:00am. We showed up at 9:45am and the Girl Scouts “happened to show up early” and complete 75% of the project.
Of course the rest of our pack didn’t show up until after 10:00am. One family showed up at 11:00am! Have I ever mentioned that tardiness is one of my biggest pet peeves? I blame my dad, who will one day show up late to his own funeral.
I looked forward to this day for at least a month, so I wasn’t going to stand there playing with my phone. I walked into the kitchen like I owned it and asked for a job, which turned out to be opening 40 cans of corn. Meanwhile, the boys and the Mister took out the trash and broke down boxes. After that, we filled dinner boxes.
It was when we were standing in line for our third pass at the dinner boxes that I asked the boys if they were having fun. Imagine my surprise when Nico said, “Sort of?” and Mikey said “Not really.”
I couldn’t believe it! My boys, the product of someone who loves volunteering, weren’t having fun. We were doing something that would help people! We were being of service! We opened many cans of corn.
“But mom,” Mikey said. “It’s like we walked in and they just put us to work! We had to take out trash! I mean, I’m exhausted.”
“Yeah,” Nico said. “I haven’t even had any time to play with my friends.”
Well, look at that. It’s time for our Come to Jesus Meeting!
While the Mister glowered, I explained to the boys that (1) it’s important to show gratitude for our blessings by doing something for those who need assistance, no matter the amount or the capacity and (2) I couldn’t care less if they were tired or bored, they were going to pitch in with a better attitude or by God the next time they saw their Xbox would be the year 2032. The day went smoothly after my motivational speech.
After a while, the boys enjoyed themselves. They especially liked sweeping, moving furniture, and wiping down the tables. It’s funny, because at their age I remember begging my mom to dust. Kids are weird.
LOVE the motivational speech! And I wish my scout pack was better connected with service opportunities… I'll have to make it a point to do some local investigating.
I love that you and your boys are volunteering. We have a "Community Table" that serves one complete, hot meal (sometimes lunch, sometimes dinner) every single day of the year to who ever comes through the door. I've volunteered there a few times for some service organizations I'm a part of and can't wait until my kids are old enough to pitch in (they have to be 10). In the meantime, I'm on the lookout for younger volunteer opportunities.
Also�lateness�my family thinks it is hilarious how aggravated I am by lateness. You wouldn't happen to be a firstborn? I read somewhere that it's being a stickler for punctuality is an oldest child trait.
My husband and I cracked up at your 'come to Jesus' speech, because you hit on the importance of volunteering/giving of yourself and on something that would really hit the boys heart…XBox! We definitely want to do family volunteering when our child is older (our first is still currently in the womb!!), because it is so important to make sure kids know they aren't the center of the world and others don't have the easy (relative, of course) lives we do. Anyway, this post makes me happy. Hope you and your family have a lovely Thanksgiving.
Just committing a faux pas and leaving an unrelated comment here because I can't get your "contact" button to work. Sorry. Don't know if it's me or not. I had a comment about your Call of the Wild post get eaten, hence the trying of the contact button. Since I was unsuccessful, I thought I'd let you know. Don't know if it's just me. – LauraC
OK, I think I fixed it. Thanks for the heads up!
*couldn't care less
Sorry to be obnoxious, but while tardiness is one of your biggest pet peeves, leaving the "n't" off of that phrase is one of mine. ;)
I'm glad that in the end your boys got into it. After all, the whole point of volunteering is to offer up yourself to work (for service). So, of course they were put to work, ha ha!
Sorry, can't believe I did that since it's one of my pet peeves, too.
I always say 'could care less' and when people correct me to 'couldn't' I always say "Yes, I could care less, but I don't care too." ;)
I loved to dust, too. I may have had some weird love of Pledge.
Oh my I remember begging my mom to let me clean the (already clean) floor and to wash the windows when I was a kid. Now just the thought of either makes me want to lie down.
Come to Jesus meetings are in order at our house, too. I might steal that as my catchphrase ;) Grateful thoughts from now on… Helena