Teaching Our Babes About Giving Back & Community

Hi!

I was recently listening to some back episodes of one of my favourite podcasts and it inspired me to write this post. I want to teach Nora the importance of giving back and here's why.

I believe it's our responsibility as members of a highly functioning society to give back in whatever way we can. Making decisions in our lives sometimes doesn't JUST affect us as one person or one family unit. We all thrive when others thrive and by giving back you are encouraging and allowing this to happen. Giving back (in terms of time or money) also creates a sense, essence or in some cases, an actual community. Communities are what connect us to others - even when we may not physically be in the same space. Communities help us to feel united with other similar-minded people and help everyone to understand what a feeling of belongingness truly is.

I want to teach my child(ren) this and help them to understand why they should always give back to a community they belong to or believe in. This will not only help others thrive but to help others feel a sense of belonging and faith in this life we lead. (And I'm not speaking to faith in terms of religion).

I hope to teach them this through conversation, but more importantly by leading by example.

I am a member of Kingston's 100+ Women Who Care. I remember when I told a friend about this initiative that I was apart of they said they felt that $100 (every quarter) was a lot of money. I agree, $100 isn't a small amount of money and considering the fact that I am on parental leave right now and have very minimal income it is a lot in the grand scheme of our budget. BUT, when I think about what we have as a family and what the needs may be of other families and people in our community it's totally worth it. This is what I want to teach my daughter. To put others needs above her own. To be invested in her community and to genuinely want to help others to thrive.

When I came across 100+ Women Who Care Kingston I was searching for that "community". (I had heard about other chapters in Toronto and did a quick google to find Kingston's chapter). I am fairly new to Kingston (my husband was born here) and I was (and still sometimes am) feeling a little bit lost and alone in this community. I wanted to find a place where I could connect with others (in this case with women), to give back and to learn more about the physical community in which I live and am raising a family. 100+ Women Who Care fulfills all of those things for me. I leave every meeting extremely moved, feeling united with my fellow females and having learnt something new about the place I live and the issues that are important to the people here.

There are other ways that I hope to help Nora understand the importance of giving back and of community as she grows- but for now, in her first few months of life, I hope to lead her development by being a strong example to her.

What ways to do you help your children feel a sense of community and teach them to give back?

xo

The #YGK Mom

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