Building Self-Esteem in Your Kids
OK, I'm going to brag about my kids a little. We're all parents and we get to do that sometimes. It's payback for all those diapers and sleepless nights. I do like them - they're fun to be around- most of the time. But I also admire them. One of the things we do a lot as a family is volunteer. I think that's just a very important part of raising responsible kids.
It's a mixed bag, we have all sorts of things that we do and both boys have their little "niche" that they fit into. Blake helps the Sunday school teachers wrangle the little kids and likes to go to the retirement home to play Bingo with the residents. Last week, he helped fit kids with bike helmets at a bike giveaway for 1,000 kids. He is in a great Scout troop now and they are very active in volunteer work as well. Matt plays in the rock band at church, helps make and serve sandwiches to the homeless every month, and has made 4 week-long trips out of state to help low-income families with various things, partially at his own expense.
I think that's pretty cool stuff for them to do. Amazingly enough I can honestly say that not one time have they balked or complained - even if it's hot or tiring or boring. They get that even though they are just kids (well a young adult for Matt), they are doing something significant and something that helps other people. When your kids have gone somewhere and sweated in the hot sun to build a house for someone, or raked leaves for a disabled person, or seen the gratitude of homeless kids getting a big box of their cast-off toys and books, I think that really changes their whole outlook in a big way.
The nice part of this is that people usually show them a lot of appreciation for the work that they do. People usually make a big point of thanking them and praising them for showing up and helping. If you want your kid to really feel like a hero, this is a great self-esteem builder. Kids these days are so self-centered and have access to so many material riches, I think it's a great balance for them to see that other people have challenges and struggles that we don't have and I want them to have an awareness and a compassion for them to want to help other people.
OK, bragging session over - we now return you to our regularly scheduled programming.
PS: If you think my little angels are getting a little too perfect, I'll be happy to post some scary pictures of Matt's messy bedroom, or Blake's report card - ugh!
2 comments:
That is great that your boys enjoy to volunteer. I wouldn't be surprised if they continued to volunteer later in life as well because of what you taught them early on :)
I'm with you, that is wonderful! My kids do some volunteering, mostly with church or pet rescue groups, but I want to add more stuff in as well.
I think that was a VERY well deserved brag! =)
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