I am now moving onto year 4 of “Quote of the Week”!
I can’t believe that I am still keeping it up – but it has become such a staple in our house.
So much so, that little notes get dropped on my desk with a passing comment of, “I heard this quote at school and wrote it down. Thought you’d like it and could use it for our quote.” (Thanks Zach)
“You make a living with what you get, you make a life with what you GIVE” Winston Churchill
The good stuff in life is all about giving, isn’t it?
Sure, it’s fun to get stuff, but giving certainly is even better.
However, I think it’s very important that we allow others the opportunity to GIVE too.
I was in a store around Christmas and overheard a conversation a mother was clearly having with her older child. It went something like this:
“I know you want to sweetie, but I don’t need a gift. You are short of money. I don’t want you wasting your money on something for me. I know you want to, and that’s enough.”
Another woman nearby heard the same conversation and we giggled together and said “Mothers! We all have the same conversation with our kids.”
And while I don’t like my kids spending their money on me, or spending much money, I thought afterwards that it is not a good conversation to be having with our kids. We are depriving them of the opportunity to GIVE!
Giving is the top priority – but how can we really teach giving if we are not willing to accept from the giver? So the conversation really needs to be something like, “I know you are short on cash. I don’t want you to spend much, or anything at all. Just do something meaningful from the heart, that takes a little bit of effort, and I’d love to receive that.”
We need to give to make a life, and we need to graciously accept to allow other’s to give and make their life too.
Another great quote!
What I really love is the fact that you started this tradition 4 years ago and it is still going strong – and the fact that the kids leave you little notes like that one from Zach – awesome!
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Thanks, Kim! I can’t believe it has been 4 years either!
This is awesome that you have been doing this for 4 years now. I will say, my kids just started telling me today what they were getting me for Valentine’s Day and my first thought was you don’t have to get me anything. Again, such a mother thing and just heard myself saying it without even thinking!
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Accept their gifts with grace and happiness! What better thing for them to see than you getting excited for what they are planning to give you!
I love that your kids are so involved in the quote of the week posts! And it is such a mother thing to say, “Oh you don’t have to get me anything!” “Don’t spend your money on me!” My mom says that and I still do all the time!
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I think it’s a habit we get into, but we need to set the example too that we are “worth it” – who better to give to than someone you love? I also love when my kids get involved – it’s the best gift to me!!
Amazing quote and I love your perspective on it. It’s true that many of us moms have a hard time receiving. Why should we deny our kids the opportunity to give?
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Exactly! Our kids love the opportunity and it teaches them how to be generous adults too!
What a great perspective, Leah! I laugh because the conversation at the store sounds so familiar. We Moms don’t want our kids to spend what precious little money they have on us. But you are right, we are robbing them of the joy of giving. Even if we still have them hold onto their money, their are other less tangible ways they can still give, which we all benefit from. Giving is such a powerful habit to instill in our kids but it’s also an important lesson for them to realize that all giving doesn’t need to involve money. There are times in our lives where money is tight and we cannot give a favorite charity or organization money but there are other things we can still do to show our support and give back. You’re a great Mom, Leah! And I love the quotes of the week and it’s fantastic that it’s became such a huge part of your family life too!
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Thanks! I am often telling them they don’t need to spend money (but giving gifts that cost some is ok too…) the most important thing is the effort and thought put together.
LOVE this Leah!!! And how precious is that of Zach to be that tuned in to realize this to be a good quote and write it down for you. He is showing the fruits of your precious intention and hard work raising children with a perspective that is rich and profound.
SO cool.
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My greatest gifts are the little things like Zach did! I love it when I see that they are listening, learning and living what I am trying so hard to teach!
For my birthday last year, my oldest daughter gave me a five dollar bill – and she told me she wanted me to use the money to buy myself a coffee at Starbucks. It was truly the sweetest thing. My instinct was to give the money back to her and say “No! Don’t spend this on me!” but instead, I graciously accepted it and bought myself a coffee. You could tell she felt really good about it, and that’s the thing with giving. It makes us feel good. So why deprive our children of that?
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Love love love. I love that you took that money graciously and enjoyed the coffee. You taught her so much: that you are deserving of gifts (as she is), that you are appreciative, and how good it feels to give! Best cup of coffee, I bet!
I love your quotes!! Please don’t stop! I always tell the kids to not get me anything but they do anyway, and I love the thought they put into it. My youngest got me those little compressed wood firestarters so it would be easier for me to get the fire going in the morning. I thought that was the sweetest thing!
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That is the sweetest thing! And I bet they got such joy from giving to you- it was a gift you gave your child – the gift of being a gracious receiver.
I love your weekly quotations!! This one is fantastic! I hope you never stop (and never stop sharing them with us!!) –Lisa
I hope I never run out of them… but there is so much wisdom out there, I’m sure there are many more than I could write about.
Wow – 4 years! Now that is a great gift you have given your entire family. I love it!
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I can’t believe it either! Amazing how somethings just stick!
Good point! I never would have thought about it that way from the child’s perspective. I guess I’ll let the kiddos buy me junk now, lol!
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