Dang it, I wanted to post this memory earlier than the Christmas posts, but alas. At least I'm capturing it.
A few weeks before Christmas I needed to run to Walmart....something I try not to do between Thanksgiving and about the middle of January because that's Christmas shopping season and people tend to be more crazy than usual. However, whatever it was I needed couldn't wait.
It was just Rachel and I and on our way into the store we saw a Santa standing out front. Rachel was thrilled to see him and he handed her a small candy cane (candy cone as she calls them) which she ate as we went through the store. The Santa was there collecting toys for the Toys for Tots drive. Something that we as a family like to support since it's sponsored by the Marine Corps. I decided it was time to start teaching Rachel how to be thoughtful of the needs of others.
I'll throw out the disclaimer that I am not posting this in any way to brag. Usually when I do acts of kindness I prefer to do them anonymously. However, this was a very touching moment for me and since this is a blog where I want to capture memories I have of Rachel, it's being posted.
I tried to explain to my very distracted 4 yr old why Santa was out front and that we were going to pick out a couple of toys to give to Santa. We aren't going to take them home, we're going to give them to Santa.
"Why?"
"Because some kids don't have any toys. And this Santa is going to make sure those kids get nice toys."
I don't think she comprehended, and that's okay. She was thrilled we were going to the toy aisle because we don't always do that when we go to the store.
Up and down we went and stopped in the Barbie aisle. They had two Barbies for $5 each and I decided that would make a good statement. Rachel loves her Barbies. I figured purchasing something she actually liked and giving it away would make more of a statement.
We finished our shopping and paid for everything. I got her out of the cart and handed her the toys. I told her it's time to walk outside and hand the toys to Santa.
There was no whining about why the toys were coming home. There were no questions about what we were doing. She seemed genuinely excited to GIVE Santa the toys. My heart melted and I got tears in her eyes. I stood in the doorway of the store and let her walk up to Santa and give him the toys. I captured what I felt was one of the proudest moments I've had as a parent up to now:
Reeling quite a bit emotionally and trying to keep it together I was frozen where I stood. The lady standing there helping Santa motioned for me to come out and get a photo with Santa. Sad the moment was ending, I moved.
Rachel hopped back to the car with me and I shed a few tears of thankfulness. As I put her in the car and closed the door I happened to notice a penny on the ground. I typically look on the ground as I get out of the car or pretty much am anywhere because I find so many pennies that way. My mom taught me that. Right around Rachel's 4th birthday she happened to find a penny all on her own. So finding a penny on the ground right after that moment? Kind of powerful for me.
A few weeks before Christmas I needed to run to Walmart....something I try not to do between Thanksgiving and about the middle of January because that's Christmas shopping season and people tend to be more crazy than usual. However, whatever it was I needed couldn't wait.
It was just Rachel and I and on our way into the store we saw a Santa standing out front. Rachel was thrilled to see him and he handed her a small candy cane (candy cone as she calls them) which she ate as we went through the store. The Santa was there collecting toys for the Toys for Tots drive. Something that we as a family like to support since it's sponsored by the Marine Corps. I decided it was time to start teaching Rachel how to be thoughtful of the needs of others.
I'll throw out the disclaimer that I am not posting this in any way to brag. Usually when I do acts of kindness I prefer to do them anonymously. However, this was a very touching moment for me and since this is a blog where I want to capture memories I have of Rachel, it's being posted.
I tried to explain to my very distracted 4 yr old why Santa was out front and that we were going to pick out a couple of toys to give to Santa. We aren't going to take them home, we're going to give them to Santa.
"Why?"
"Because some kids don't have any toys. And this Santa is going to make sure those kids get nice toys."
I don't think she comprehended, and that's okay. She was thrilled we were going to the toy aisle because we don't always do that when we go to the store.
Up and down we went and stopped in the Barbie aisle. They had two Barbies for $5 each and I decided that would make a good statement. Rachel loves her Barbies. I figured purchasing something she actually liked and giving it away would make more of a statement.
We finished our shopping and paid for everything. I got her out of the cart and handed her the toys. I told her it's time to walk outside and hand the toys to Santa.
There was no whining about why the toys were coming home. There were no questions about what we were doing. She seemed genuinely excited to GIVE Santa the toys. My heart melted and I got tears in her eyes. I stood in the doorway of the store and let her walk up to Santa and give him the toys. I captured what I felt was one of the proudest moments I've had as a parent up to now:
Reeling quite a bit emotionally and trying to keep it together I was frozen where I stood. The lady standing there helping Santa motioned for me to come out and get a photo with Santa. Sad the moment was ending, I moved.
Rachel hopped back to the car with me and I shed a few tears of thankfulness. As I put her in the car and closed the door I happened to notice a penny on the ground. I typically look on the ground as I get out of the car or pretty much am anywhere because I find so many pennies that way. My mom taught me that. Right around Rachel's 4th birthday she happened to find a penny all on her own. So finding a penny on the ground right after that moment? Kind of powerful for me.
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