Playing Fairy Godmother

Every Tuesday is field trip day for the 4 year olds at Luke's daycare. We paid a small "activity fee" at the beginning of the summer to cover the cost of the outings, but there was one activity that would require additional funds: Build A Bear. I asked about this one a week or so ago, since I really didn't want him coming home with an $80 bear! They said that the activity fee covers the cost of the bear itself, so everyone gets a bear. They then ask parents to contribute $20 for accessories, and the staff would help guide the choices to make sure it stayed under the $20 limit. They also said that there were a few free decorative items (like ribbons) that could be used for children who could not afford other bear adornments.

This has been eating at me every day since, just the unfairness of it all. My father has always said, "I teach my children that life isn't fair. That said, I try to make sure it is as fair as possible." $20 to us at this moment in time is nothing. How fortunate are we to be able to think of it that way! There was a time that it wasn't nothing, and I also know that $20 is *not* nothing to a lot of people, especially now. How much would it hurt, as a child, to see your friends all getting bear accessories, and you being left with just a ribbon or something? And how much more would it hurt, as a parent, to have to explain to your child that while the other kids are getting fun stuff for their bears, they cannot? Especially when these are the same parents who have already had to say over and over that they can't get something else because they don't have the money. It is just so unfair!

So, yesterday afternoon, without even consulting my husband (who I knew would agree with me), I decided to ask how many kids they thought would not be able to afford bear accessories. I was given an estimate, did the math, and volunteered to sponsor any child whose parents could not afford the $20. I also told her to "bump" any child who had less than $20, so that everyone had an equal amount to spend (unless their parents had provided more). I think everyone was crying by this point except me, mainly because I was just so happy to be doing it! When I explained to DH what I had done, he whole-heartedly agreed that it was the right thing to do. "It will be fun to play fairy godmother," he said. I dropped off the estimated amount plus some (just in case) this morning.

The director called this afternoon. She had receipts for all of the money that was spent, the leftover change, plus the remaining unneeded $20 bills. She said that all of the parents had requested that she pass on their thanks (we asked not to be identified), and most had gotten teary when she explained that their child would still get to participate. I've been walking around with the biggest grin on my face all day, just knowing that we totally made the day of several children (and parents). Is this what Santa Claus feels like? That must be the best job in the world!



I'm sure I could have done something "better" or "more worthwhile" with the money. I could have donated it to cancer research. I could have spent it on food for the food bank. But this opportunity presented itself to me, and I felt called to do it. No one asked for money for the other kids, it is just something small that I realized we could do for them. I'm not writing this to brag on us. I just want to share how much fun we had today, and how much joy we got from this small gesture. I hope it will encourage you to give when you can, where you see a need, whether you give money or time or something else. "Practice random acts of kindness and senseless acts of beauty," as the bumper sticker says. It thrills my soul to know that there are several more children with smiles (and bears) like these tonight:



Go out and try some spontaneous charity, if you can. It feels awesome!

Currently feeling: bibidi-bobidi-boo