A Lesson In Generosity
As we head into the holiday season, we will be greeted with sights and sounds that instill as sense of giving and goodwill to those near and far. This seasonal cheer is often referred to as “the most wonderful time of the year!” As a parent, this truly is the most wonderful time of the year, especially to lay the groundwork for the true meaning of giving and generosity from the heart.
Most parents teach their children to be kind and generous to those around them. Sometimes parents force this approach on their children, rather than allowing the child to choose the option rather than feel like it is an obligation. Our job as parents is to model the act of generosity to our children in our words and deed in our home and community.
Here are some tips to set the stage for your child to experience the joy of giving to others.
It Begins With You. Make sure that you are modeling generosity with those around you. This can be something as simple as leaving a tip and smile for the barista, asking an elderly woman in the grocery store if you can help with her cart, sharing your favorite treat with your child, or baking muffins for the neighbor that loves your recipe! Every day look for those treasures, those moments where you can give back to someone around you.
Give To Your Family. Make sure that your children and your spouse know how much you appreciate them. Everyone – big and small – needs to know on a consistent basis that they are seen, appreciated and adored.
Give You Child The Option. Give your child the opportunity to experience how his actions can create joy in others- but don’t force it. It is important that your child is ready to understand the experience of giving back rather than being resentful. If siblings are in the equation, this is the perfect training ground to model sharing, as well as create the environment where the experience will be positive for all involved.
Pay It Forward With Goodwill As A Family. Start while your kids are young, so your kids will experience the reality of how they’re making a difference in lives. The activities that are available in most communities include sorting food at the local food bank, helping an elderly neighbor with yard work, or sending a holiday greeting to a deployed soldier.
Eventually, your child will learn from experience that it truly is “more blessed to give than to receive!”
A Good Breakfast Will Jump Start Your Day!
Too many families run out of the house in the morning without grabbing a proper breakfast. For the parents… a cup of coffee, regardless of how much milk, foam and cinnamon you put into it, won’t cut it. For the kids in the house, a sugar-filled pastry or cereal will quickly wear off – creating a tired student and less brain power! There are three primary reasons you want to have a healthy meal start your day:
- To stay alert and filled with energy to take on what the day brings.
- To achieve and maintain a healthy weight.
- Because your body needs fuel.
Most importantly, your brain needs glucose (sugar) to function. If you don’t give it that, you cannot think at your best. Also, while you are sleeping your metabolism drops, and without eating it will stay low. Having a lowered metabolism can cause cravings for bad foods later in the day or cause you to overeat. Numerous studies have shown that people who eat a good breakfast on a regular basis are less likely to be obese than those who do not. They are also more likely to lose weight and keep it off than those who skip the meal altogether.
It’s so important to make the right choices too. Grabbing a donut at the office or a toaster pastry for the ride to school, though technically food, is so laden with sugar that it defeats the purpose. While having a high carb/high sugar breakfast gives you that early morning sugar high and serotonin boost, it also sets you up to crash later. You want to eat a healthy balance of good carbs, protein and fat.
Don’t think you have time to eat? A smoothie is a tasty, portable, healthy (depending on what you put into it) meal that you can eat on the go. To save time, spend an evening cutting up fruit and freezing it in serving size baggies or purchase the pre-made varieties at your local supermarket. When it’s time to eat, pour the frozen fruit into a blender, add some Greek yogurt, wheat germ, oats and/or flax seed (for filling fiber), and juice. Experiment with honey, basil and mint to add a boost of flavor.
Next time you are tempted to run out of the house on an empty stomach, consider your brain and your weight. Whip up a smoothie and your body will thank you!
