Of Time & Money
For some reason, my mind got stuck on the idea and I began to chew it over like an errant fingernail… is money really the best way to validate others? Does that mean everything else is second best? What does this mean for our children? If we hardly have two nickels to rub together, will our children spend their lives invalidated?
After all, some of the important things in life that our children need cost money, and sometimes lots of it. Music lessons… a college education… dependable transportation… insurance for the dependable transportation… respectable clothing. These things have great power to help them feel valued.
I asked my husband if he thought money was the best way to show others that we value them. He mentioned the wedding gift his parents had given us-cash. (Oh yeah. I had forgotten.) But we both remembered in great detail the time they drove 750 miles one way when our first child was born to bring her great-grandparents out to see their first great-grandchild. My husband's parents and grandparents fussed over our new baby… took her for walks and took picture after picture for an entire day, then got up early the next morning to make the 750 mile drive back home. My husband and I will never forget that. It meant everything to us. Why? Because they had sacrificed the most precious thing they have, their time.
Twenty-one years later, my husband did a similar thing for that same daughter. She was in Chicago preparing for a new job in Washington DC, her car was in Utah. Without hesitation, my husband offered to drive her car to her in Chicago so she wouldn't have to drive all the way from Utah to DC by herself. She was touched that he would be willing to miss work, use up vacation days and rearrange his schedule to do that for her. I joined him on the trip and while we were in Chicago with her we took her to nice restaurants and gave her money when we left.
When I asked her about it, she had forgotten the money and the restaurants. What did she remember about the trip? She remembered that we drove for two days so she wouldn't have to and that her Dad took her on a dry run from the hotel to the freeway so that she could find her way without getting lost in the bad part of Chicago.
Why is that what she remembers? Because her father took something he could barely afford to sacrifice-his time.
Hmmmm.
Related Tags: money, time, help, children, best, gift, sacrifice, share, dollars, unselfish
See "Celebrating Motherhood" at http://www.celebratingmotherhood.com for helps in building strong mother and child bonds and attachment as well as other parenting tips and encouragement.
Your Article Search Directory : Find in ArticlesRecent articles in this category:
- Miniman: Shopping for the Most Suitable Miniman Baby Clothing
Shopping for baby clothing can be quite difficult, especially if it is the parents' first time to h - New Study: Nearly 40% of Parents Can't Accurately Pinpoint Their Children's Weight
Childhood obesity is rising fast in many countries, and the results from a new study may point to on - Kids Learning And Coloring Pages - A Review
Coloring pages is one of the most favorite fun activities of children which not only entertains them - Where to Look Should You Need a Babysitter
Are you someone who has those last minute meetings that you simply cannot miss? If your job require - What to Do When You Find a Babysitter
You and your husband deserve a night out on the town. Raising children is hard work but most parent - Effective Parenting
Parenting is a vulnerable experience. Caring for children automatically makes us responsible and we - Overcoming the Jitters....helping Anxious Kids
Anyone who has experienced anxiety will know how debilitating it can be. For those with no persona - The Nigerian Child: Face to Face With Abuse
The streets are increasingly becoming the homes of children in Nigeria, such that if nothing is don - How to Handle Autism Anger in the Teenage Years
Teens with autism can sometimes be faced with behaviors - such as autism anger - which are beyond t - Spotlight on Autism Parents - Maintaining Balance in Your Other Relationships
Autism parents don't have it easy. You are faced with many more challenges than parents of childre
Most viewed articles in this category:
- The Perfect Parent...Who Are We Kidding?
I get the feeling that there are a lot of moms and dads out there that feel they're not measuring up - Partial Breastfeeding - Should I Even Bother?
For some women, feeding a baby with breastmilk alone is not possible. The reasons for this vary. For - Skateboarding In The Eighties To The Present
Skateboarding traces its roots to the seventies but it really reached the peak of its popularity in - How Breastfeeding Benefits A Daddy
You know that breastfeeding is best for mother and child, but what's in it for Dad? Isn't he going t - Child-Appropriate Costumes: Violence, Sexuality, And Insensitivity
So your daughter wants to be Wonder Woman for Hallowe'en, or your son wants to be Batman. They're bo - The Evolution Of Vitamin B5 For Acne
I came across the benefits of Vitamin B5 6 years ago whilst searching for an acne treatment that act - Depression And Teens - Six Signs That Your Child May Be Suffering From Depression
Most people are now aware of the seriousness of depression. This has become much more common and mor - Parenting Teenager - Take Time For Your Teen!
BookWire's "Year in Reviews Magazine," December 2006 issue, lists a review of my book "Help Me With - Why It's Important To Follow A Healthy Diet When Pregnant
Pregnancy is one of the most physically enduring times in our lives, and it is more important than e - Sleep Separation And Your Child
It seems harmless enough, lying down with your child while he goes to sleep, but it could be that sl
