When Child Knows Best

 

 I had the reminder this weekend that not everything will be perfect, and I won't always handle things in the best way. 

On Friday, my daughter sent me a text asking me if I would join her for the community clean-up day at her school. She needs service hours for a few honor societies she is in, and she says this would be an easy way to knock some of those hours out. 

I had seen the information on this clean-up day in the weekly parent email blast and immediately thought "gardening? painting?  power washing? NOPE!" I also knew that the day before was going to be pretty busy because I had a volunteer commitment in the morning, followed by a mystery shop, plus we needed to do some shopping for some outfits for kiddo to wear to Youth Legislature, and then all of the normal errands that I do on weekends.

But I've always said I would never discourage kiddo from volunteering. She knows that I try to make it a habit in my own life, and I have told her how important I think it is that we help others in any way we can. I've also told her that while donating money and items are great, donating your time is just as (if not more) valuable. 

Did I want to listen to any of that advice I have been touting for years? NO. To be honest, FIVE books on my TBR were released last week, and all I wanted to do Sunday was curl up with coffee and snacks on the back patio and knock a few of them out. 

So I grumbled a little ... ok, I grumbled A LOT. Mostly to myself. Not much to kiddo, but I also never caved and gave fake enthusiasm about it. Then we get to the site, and thankfully, kiddo asks if we can do painting. (Because she knows it's the only thing I truly felt comfortable doing.) 

Our assignment was to touch up paint on the poles that supported the covers over the sidewalk. Now, there was no way that we could finish all of these in our 2 hours shift, but we made finished over half of them, which was a pretty big accomplishment. 

As we were painting and chatting, kiddo would ask me questions that were little pokes of a dagger to my heart. Isn't this fun, mom? Isn't it nice to do something to help other people? Isn't it nice to do something to show your community you care? 

Each question cut just a little more than the one before as kiddo tossed all of the words I've sad about the importance of volunteering back at me. 

And I had to remind myself of the one that she hadn't said. If you're going to complain about it, then it's better to not volunteer. So I sucked it up, and got lost in the painting. 

And dare I say, I wished that I didn't have to go to that mystery shop so we could have stayed and finished. Being there with kiddo and seeing her so excited about helping and getting to talk with her about anything that popped into our heads while we were there was a special moment. 

Now that she is a teenager, she doesn't want to hang out as much. I need to remind myself to stop complaining when she does, and take these moments for the beautiful thing they are. Whether it's something I want to do or not.