For those of you who follow me on Facebook (you can follow + like our Facebook page, HERE) you have already seen my big news! I have been chosen to be a blogger for Northeast Ohio Parent Magazine – which is extremely exciting, as seeing my writing being published on other sites brings me so much joy!
My first blog I shared with their readers is my “14 Days of Love” challenge that we will be doing as a family. It starts February 1, and consists of a 14 day countdown – each day the boys are given a random act of kindness to do before they go to bed at night. I genuinely could not be more excited for this challenge. The boys actually came up with the majority of these challenges, which just warms my momma heart to see how they come up with ways to make someone elses day better.
The idea spiraled out of me one morning when I briefly turned on the news to catch the weather. You see, we rarely turn on the news here because as you all are well aware it is extremely depressing and it seems as if every story covered if full of the hate that is spinning around the globe. I have to drop what I am doing and run to turn off the t.v. before the boys catch wind of the latest murder, terrorist attack or shooting.
Trust me, the boys are not sheltered. BUT we do draw a fine line about what we share with them. If they ask, we explain, in vague detail – just enough for their little minds to handle (understand). It is just a scary world to raise kids in these days, and as parents, we are chosing to put LOVE first in our house. We hope by raising kind, generous, love filled children that they will impact others around them in a positive way. The snowball effect if you will — as Whitney Houston sang, “I believe children are our future” … it is so so true.
I want our kids to build character in so many ways —
And in today’s world, really be KIDS.
SO!
Join me on this challenge with your kids and have them do a random act of kindness everyday in February leading up to Valentines day!
Here is how I set this simple challenge up:
Right now in the Target dollar section, for $3 (see what they do there) you can snag this darling wooden heart garland. There are mini clothing pins on the back, where I hung paper circles, numbered, with the challenge of the day written on the back. If you cannot find the garland, just fill out pieces of paper and have your kiddos pick them out of a hat!
The challenge of the day varies, from bringing doughnuts to the fire station, cooking dinner for someone special, even sending a surprise care package to someone who moved away. Come up with your own ideas, and do not make it too complicated. There a bunch of simple ones scattered between, like read your brother a book at bedtime, help each other clean up, or play with your pets for 20 minutes!
I hope at the end of this challenge that my boys are even more inspired to do these random acts of kindness more often. Teaching them to think outside the box. More than opening a door for someone, or saying please and thank you – that there are millions of ways to make someone smile and let them know you are thinking of them.
Where is the love?
In The Thome Home!
Lets do this guys!
A little Whitney for your Wednesday, you’re welcome for having this song stuck in your head for the rest of your work day.