Metropolitan Mama

Part III: How To Volunteer With Small Children

May 10, 2011 By Stephanie 10 Comments

standing in advance nc Part III: How To Volunteer With Small Children

There are some seasons in life when it might not be the best idea to make an outside commitment to a non-profit.

Perhaps you are car-less or sleepless or you have a wee newborn or a busload of kids.

Don’t be disheartened. There are plenty of ways you can give to your community…from your little house in Anytown, USA.

You can:

knit socks for premature infants.
donate breast milk.
foster a child.
put together packets for the homeless.
spread the word about your favorite charities – via Facebook or Twitter.
organize a lemonade stand, bake sale, or yard sale…with all of the proceeds going toward a needy family or a 501(c)(3) in your area.
deliver a meal to someone who is housebound, elderly, ill, pregnant, or with a new baby.

ALSO – Remember that service to your family matters most of all. I often meditate on what Mother Teresa reiterated time and time again: “Love begins by taking care of the closest ones…the ones at home.” As a parent, you may feel like you’re not really serving…but, oh, you ARE. As you brush teeth, give baths, read stories, go on walks, listen to questions, and love intentionally…you are changing the world in the biggest and most important way. You are making an un-eraseable, irrevocable mark on your child’s life. Never, ever take that for granted.

* This is Part III of a three-part series on How To Volunteer With Small Children. [Read Part I and Part II].

What other ideas do you have for how parents can volunteer with small children?

Filed Under: Philanthropy Tagged With: volunteer from home, volunteer with babies, volunteer with preschoolers, volunteer with small children, volunteer with toddlers

Part II: How To Volunteer With Small Children

May 9, 2011 By Stephanie 3 Comments

4 year old volunteer Part II: How To Volunteer With Small Children Our family volunteers with non-profit organizations about 3 days a week. We typically spend between 1-2 hours at any given place. At first, I was terrified of that prospect. I thought it might be a little much for two very active little girls (ages 2 & 4).

The reality, however, is that our girls usually enjoy the new environment and the hustle & bustle of completing a project.

Of course, things aren’t exactly Utopian. We’ve learned to expect imperfection and to laugh at little snafus that come up.

We’ve also learned that these 4 things make volunteering with babies and toddlers MUCH easier.

1. Try your best to schedule volunteer projects when your kids are freshly fed and rested. After breakfast tends to be a good time for our young ones, but take your own child(ren)’s temperament and nap schedule into consideration.

2. Bring a backpack. Include diapers, wipes, extra clothes, extra underwear, a wet/dry bag, a snack, and/or a bottle of water. It’s also a good idea to bring along a few coloring books and crayons in case you end up waiting for a project coordinator or instructions.

3. If possible, include your spouse or another adult (grandpa, grandma, your sister, etc). It’s much easier if volunteering involves the entire family. The more adult hands, the more peaceful the project will be.

4. Understand what you are contributing. We recently put together boxes at Manna Food Bank. Our 2-year-old worked slowly, lifting the heavy cans with all her might. Our 4-year-old was a little more adept, but I found that I was supervising for most of our morning – making sure that no one got conked in the head or run over by other volunteers.

Would I say then that what we gave was insignificant? On the contrary!

Volunteering is much more than just completing small projects. It’s awareness as you talk about the experience to friends. It’s encouragement for the staff as they see young ones at work. And let us not forget the impact that service has on a child’s mind and heart. Your child may not remember the details, but the impression is sure to last a lifetime.

Stay tuned for practical ideas on how to volunteer from home!

* This is Part II of a three-part series on How To Volunteer With Small Children. [Read Part I and Part III].

Filed Under: Philanthropy Tagged With: volunteer with babies, volunteer with preschoolers, volunteer with small children, volunteer with toddlers

I didn’t get breakfast in bed

May 8, 2011 By Stephanie 25 Comments

My day didn’t begin with breakfast in bed (because Tim & I see it like this – Who wants to eat IN bed? With crumbs going everywhere? Holding a tray tipsy on your legs with no back support? No, thank you.).

mothers day fun I didnt get breakfast in bed

I awoke when my 4-year-old climbed out of bed and tumbled out into the main RV living area, whispering to Tim that it was time for the Mother’s Day surprise. I smiled as I heard the dishes rattling and smelled the warm cinnamon bread floating through our small living space.

mothers day breakfast I didnt get breakfast in bed

About an hour later, my 2-year-old and I stretched awake. My 4-year-old tugged at my hand and led me to the dining room table. “Surprise!” she yelled, her eyes sparkling. The table was set. Honeydew melon in circles, homemade bread (still hot!), and real butter.

mothers day card from child I didnt get breakfast in bed At 10, we walked down to the chapel here at the campground for a service. After the opening hymns, the pastor’s wife called the children forward for a special treat. “The Children” she was referring to were our two girls. There were no other children in the building! She asked the girls to sing “Jesus Loves Me” and our 4-year-old totally did – with the microphone and all!

In the afternoon, we went hiking with another on-the-road family and then had Italian Ice in the North Carolina sunshine.

Afterward, Tim took the girls out by the lake to let me catch up with e-mails and I made excellent progress (only 200 e-mails left in there tonight!).

Do you like breakfast in bed? Yay or nay?

Filed Under: Miscellany Tagged With: breakfast in bed, mother's day surprise, mothers day breakfast

Part I: How To Volunteer With Small Children

May 7, 2011 By Stephanie 16 Comments

sitting on a log Part I: How To Volunteer With Small Children Our daughters are 2 and 4. In the past 90 days, my husband and I have volunteered with over 30 organizations…with our little ones, without childcare. On average, we volunteer about 3 times a week with a structured organization.

Prior to traveling the country to give, I always wanted to give back to my community, but I wasn’t sure how it would work logistically with tiny tots. I am much more confident now (A) that it can be done AND (B) that it is worthwhile.

Here are three pointers to help get you started on your journey.

1. Take a tour first. Part of the fear associated with volunteering with small children is that the organization won’t smile kindly on having a bubbly baby, a restless toddler, and/or a precocious preschooler around. There’s only one way to find out! Call an organization in your town and say that you are a potential volunteer that would like to take a tour to learn more. Be sure to mention that you will have your children with you for the tour. As you listen and ask questions, you’ll get a better idea about what the organization does, how they respond to children, and if there are service opportunities available that work with your schedule, your interests, and your children’s ages.

2. Sign up – on trial. If you find an organization that you are passionate about, pick a commitment that works for you. Choose once a week, twice a month, or once a quarter. Most organizations will be happy to have you – regardless of the frequency.

3. Expect imperfection. There will sometimes be potty training pauses, declarations of boredom, and fights over who-gets-to-sort-the-GIRL-clothes. But you’ll probably find that on MOST days, your children will be excited to serve. They will enjoy being in a new environment. They will know, from somewhere deep inside, that they are making a difference – even at under three feet tall!

Stay tuned tomorrow for practical ideas on how to make volunteer days go smoother.

* This is Part I of a three-part series on How To Volunteer With Small Children. [Read Part II and Part III].

Filed Under: Philanthropy Tagged With: volunteer with baby, volunteer with preschooler, volunteer with small children, volunteer with toddler

Travel With Kids: Asheville

May 5, 2011 By Stephanie 8 Comments

Asheville’s reputation is nothing short of sparkling. Every time we told someone we were going there, people said, “Oh, you’re going to love it!” And we did.

The terrain is lovely – there are towering trees and beautiful hiking/running trails in every direction.

wandering through the woods in asheville Travel With Kids: Asheville buildings in downtown asheville Travel With Kids: Asheville climbing the steps asheville Travel With Kids: Asheville

Aside from volunteering with a number of great organizations, we also toured the Biltmore (America’s Biggest Home). As expected, it is ornate and lavish and impressively modern for the time it was built.

Our favorite days of fun were poking around downtown, where we spent an entire afternoon at the Pack Memorial Library on Haywood Street. We also took a narrated red trolley ride through the eclectic streets.

riding the trolley asheville Travel With Kids: Asheville

My favorite thing was eating at the Laughing Seed Cafe, a global fusion vegetarian restaurant. I ordered Raw Spinach-Pesto Manicotti and my mouth pretty much exploded with flavor upon every bite. Tim had the Tico Burrito and it was equally delectable. I highly recommend it!

spinach pesto manicotti Travel With Kids: Asheville tico burrito Travel With Kids: Asheville laughing cafe inside Travel With Kids: Asheville

Have you ever been to Asheville, NC? What did you like/not like about it?

* Special thanks to Explore Asheville for providing passes for area attractions.

Filed Under: Travel With Kids Tagged With: asheville with kids, best restaurant asheville, laughing seeds cafe, travel with kids asheville

Are we homeschooling yet?

May 4, 2011 By Stephanie 31 Comments

writing a letter to her pen pal

“Are you homeschooling them yet?“

We are asked that question often as we travel from state-to-state.

At first, I wavered in my answer, “Well, they’re still young (ages 2 & 4). We do some school activities with them…“

The real answer though is THIS:

We read stacks of books every day – with dramatic voices, with time for questions and answers.
We talk about trees, animals, and rocks as we hike on new trails.
We linger at libraries and listen to street performers.
We go behind-the-scenes at important historical places.
We interact with people of different ages, races, & socioeconomic backgrounds.
We volunteer at and tour non-profit organizations 2-4 days out of every single week.
Our girls listen as we ask questions like “What do you attribute to homelessness among our veterans?” and “What do you think the solution is for childhood poverty in our country?“
We try new churches of different denominations. Last week, we went to a church where people wore headcoverings, had beards, and had a big feast with wine + dancing (like from the movies). Before that, we went to a Salvation Army church.
We bake cookies and count teaspoons, cups, and eggs.
We are learning US geography. (I actually know where all the states and most of the major cities are now!)
Our 4-year-old has a pen pal.
We visit with sick children, people with disabilities, and the elderly.
We sample new foods and flavors.
We see people in dozens of careers – as they go about their days.

In short, our girls are seeing the world at work. They are hearing conversations that usually happen away from children’s ears – conversations about business, politics, social issues, and money.

Last night as I was tucking our 4-year-old into bed, she whispered, “What organization are we going to tomorrow?” I told her and she smiled back, “And what else are we going to do tomorrow?” I pause, “Lots of wonderful things. I love you. Good night…and don’t you dare wake up your sister.” ;)

So – YES. I say it with confidence now, “Yes, we are definitely homeschooling.”

Filed Under: Homeschooling Tagged With: homeschooling, homeschooling on-the-road, real world schooling, roadschooling, unschooling

Tuesday Tours: What’s Happening on the Web

May 3, 2011 By Stephanie 8 Comments

Welcome to “Tuesday Tours: What’s Happening on the Web” where I serve as your tour guide and showcase the best contests, deals, and reads on the web…all in one convenient location.

Contests

5 Minutes for Mom is giving away your choice of either Office for Mac 2011 or Office 2010 for PCs. Deadline: May 7.

Announcements

Central Christian Church in Mesa, AZ invites you to a special screening of “Absent: a justin hunt documentary” on Thursday, May 12. Tickets are $10.