If I had to choose one life lesson that I hope my kids carry with them as they grow into adults, it would be practicing kindness towards others. It's not hard to be nice.
At Wendy's (insert "Laurel is severely culinarily challenged" jokes here), there was a gentleman,who happened to have a modified wheelchair next to the table. He was enjoying dinner alone. As he struggled to get up from the seat and into his wheelchair, it broke my heart because you could see (I think) ) he was in pain and discomfort.
Sitting right next to him was a rather preppy looking family with 2 preteens texting on their cell phones, all with Polo/designer clothes, and the requisite dye job on the mom, Dad talking loudly on his cell phone about some financial deal wearing cufflinks that probably cost more than all my jewelry combined. The "perfect little family". (I perhaps have my own work to do on being judgmental).
I was eating my baked potato with my girls. The man was having an awful time maneuvering his wheelchair, while holding the tray that he was trying to throw away. The aforementioned family's girls stared at him, while the parents intently looked at their food. He was a foot away from their table. No offer of help came from them.
I walked over and asked if I could take his tray for him. He got tears in his tears and said thank you and apologized for some purported inconvenience , with very garbled speech. I said, loud enough to let the family and the staff and my kids hear it, "It's my pleasure. You have nothing to be sorry for. Have a good night".
People should help people. It's not that complicated. The entire episode reminded me that our kids learn by example. My girls (whose backs were to the situation and didn't see anything until I went over to help) asked me why the other people did not help. I reminded them to not worry about what other people choose to do because we don't know why their hearts don't tell them to. I reminded them how good it makes one's heart to provide someone a little TLC and care.
We have a person with a disability in our family. My daughters certainly already get "it" a lot more than most kids do. Last night, I was in a really grumpy mood. I needed an attitude adjustment. I got one from such a small event. My daughters saw kindness in action. All was good.
At Wendy's (insert "Laurel is severely culinarily challenged" jokes here), there was a gentleman,who happened to have a modified wheelchair next to the table. He was enjoying dinner alone. As he struggled to get up from the seat and into his wheelchair, it broke my heart because you could see (I think) ) he was in pain and discomfort.
Sitting right next to him was a rather preppy looking family with 2 preteens texting on their cell phones, all with Polo/designer clothes, and the requisite dye job on the mom, Dad talking loudly on his cell phone about some financial deal wearing cufflinks that probably cost more than all my jewelry combined. The "perfect little family". (I perhaps have my own work to do on being judgmental).
I was eating my baked potato with my girls. The man was having an awful time maneuvering his wheelchair, while holding the tray that he was trying to throw away. The aforementioned family's girls stared at him, while the parents intently looked at their food. He was a foot away from their table. No offer of help came from them.
I walked over and asked if I could take his tray for him. He got tears in his tears and said thank you and apologized for some purported inconvenience , with very garbled speech. I said, loud enough to let the family and the staff and my kids hear it, "It's my pleasure. You have nothing to be sorry for. Have a good night".
People should help people. It's not that complicated. The entire episode reminded me that our kids learn by example. My girls (whose backs were to the situation and didn't see anything until I went over to help) asked me why the other people did not help. I reminded them to not worry about what other people choose to do because we don't know why their hearts don't tell them to. I reminded them how good it makes one's heart to provide someone a little TLC and care.
We have a person with a disability in our family. My daughters certainly already get "it" a lot more than most kids do. Last night, I was in a really grumpy mood. I needed an attitude adjustment. I got one from such a small event. My daughters saw kindness in action. All was good.
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