Mitzvots

Riley's school kicked off December with "Mitzot Week" aka Good Deed Week! I love this theme and Miss Roo ran with it, big time. She did genuinely try to go out of her way every day to be extra kind and helpful. In previous years her brother's school had the same theme and he'd come home hard pressed to tell me his good deed for the day so I was pleasantly surprised by Miss Roo's commitment.

I took Riley to a "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" story time event at the book store after school the first day of mitzvoh week. It couldn't have come at a better time. After the story they explained how December 1st was the beginning of the "Grow Your Heart" program. Kids do three good deeds and then mail in their card and the publisher donates a new book to a kid in need. The good deeds are things kids can easily do like play with someone at school who is by themselves, help mom make dinner, say something kind, etc. Amazing right? It didn't take Miss Roo long at all and she was so proud! Happy reading underprivileged girl in our community. Good Work Random House!

Every year I ask the kids to clean out their toys before Christmas. Up until now I have sorted Riley's by myself. I talked to my kids, like I always do, about giving the toys that haven't been played with to other kids who will be happy to have them. Color me surprised when Riley then volunteered to donate toys to a younger friend and younger class at her school. She's so sweet. She helped me collect all the pieces, wipe everything down and she even volunteered to take batteries out of other toys so we could replace the ones in the toys we were donating.

It is so important to remind kids to be grateful, generous and kind in our instant gratification world. It's always a struggle and even I forget that there's no kindness to small. It does my heart good to think of all the kids growing their heart three sizes by offering kindness to others in their own small way. I wish everyone a month full of random acts of kindness given and received.