Compassion

The purpose of human life is to serve and to show compassion and the will to help others

-Albert Schweitzer

How does one create a sense of charitable kindness in children?  How can kids appreciate what they have without ever experiencing those that have not?  In today's world I believe it is much more challenging.  It is not, however, impossible.

There is a fantastic organization geared towards mentoring children called Kids Korps.  They are a service organization with a mission to develop leaders via volunteerism.  A child may participate in as many or as few activities as they wish.  These activities open up their "world."


Years ago, the first activity we chose to attend was a collaborative effort to stuff thousands of bags with items used for children  rescued from abusive or neglectful homes--terrible situations.  According to the law enforcement officials present that day, these kids often don't have more than the shirts on their backs when they are rescued and removed from their homes.  A community effort stuffed toiletries, coloring books/crayons, homemade blankets, books, stuffed animals and other essentials.  Grant asked many "but why?" questions that day. It was a quintessential day in teaching compassion to my son.  I could not stop tearing up as I thought about each bag and each child.

Other activities of importance were feeding senior citizens, serving meals to the homeless and planting trees in impoverished neighborhoods





Thanks to the opportunities via Kids Korps my hope is for Grant to maintain a lifelong desire of service to others and compassion for those less fortunate.

Viva Mexico!

There is something exhilarating about crossing the border and heading into Mexico.  Perhaps it is the sense of adventure being in a foreign country.  Once we hit the road in Tijuana with aggressive drivers and what feels like a road-race, we know the adventure has begun.

I was introduced to Mexico (Tijuana) as a child when my dad would take us on expeditions to Caliente racetrack.  He loved bartering with the street vendors on the way back to the border crossing.  I have vivid memories of his threats (jokingly) to turn me in to the border agents/federales as an illegal because I looked Hispanic as a child with dark skin and long braids.

When the kids were small we found a great location to continue the adventures in Mexico.  Estero Beach Mexico is a hidden little gem on the Pacific about thirty minutes south of Ensenada.  This annual trip was something the kids looked forward to during summer break.  Our friends, who also made the trip, felt more at ease with me as the interpreter since I spoke the language.  Always handy to speak Spanish while in Mexico.


For Grant and the other kids, the highlights were going to the local fireworks store and stocking up on every imaginable explosive to set off on the beach--blowing up old tennis shoes or old Seasame Street stuffed animals,  eating at the favorite taco stand (which I refused to do),  throwing "poppers" on the ground and at siblings' feet, hanging out at the swim-up bar for virgin Margaritas, the live band and dancing at the outdoor restaurant, jet-skiing and getting pulled on the banana boat (pictured above), and haggling with the vendors on the beach and in town.


Photo above of Grant (rear), Jamie, Daniel, Yuso, Samantha and Hannah out on their wild banana boat ride in Estero Beach

Stubborn vs. Persistent

I guess the old English proverb "the apple does not fall far from the tree" holds true.  Reflecting back, my dad was quite the stubborn one.  This trait served him well in some aspects of life (though I'm sure it drove others crazy).  He did not give up, overcame many obstacles as a child and, after a long haul, was professionally successful in a difficult field.  This trait was woven into my DNA, and then inherited by my son.

Looking at the definitions of stubborn and persistent--their root appears the same but the interpretation (one positive and one negative) is different.  
Stubborn: unreasonably obstinate; fixed or set in purpose or opinion.
Persistent: persevering; enduring tenacity.

On the one hand, any parent would agree that a stubborn child can be a source of gray hairs.  On the other hand, this child may become a persistent adult and persistence definitely has perks in life.


Even today, I am amazed by my son's persistence (I never liked negative labels on kids).  Pop pop would be smiling were he here.  If it is something of personal importance or value, Grant simply will not give up.  Despite my many well-earned gray hairs, I truly adore this trait and hope it serves him well in life.  

Photo above of my dad aka Pop pop doing what he loved.