Learning to Make a Difference: How to Instill a Volunteer Spirit in Our Kids by Melinda Sharp
Being a single parent offers an amazing opportunity to teach your children many things. The most important thing my children learned from me was to develop a solid work ethic and how to make a difference as a volunteer.
As a single parent, money was tight, and I immediately set out to get a full-time job. However, it was hard for me to give up my volunteer roles in the PTA (yes, I was one of those moms) and coaching. I was also a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate). I settled on one or two, and by managing my time (usually) my children watched – and learned.
As a family we would volunteer serving at the homeless shelter meals program. Now they both are adults who also work full-time challenging jobs – and manage to volunteer, too. My son volunteers working with veterans in hospice (he is a veteran Marine) and my daughter volunteers with animal programs and at the zoo.
Try to remember: we are better when we share our talents with others, even when we are worn out and just need an hour to relax in a hot bath.
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