Goodbye Goody Bags

Today was our sweet girls 3rd birthday party. It was really a blast. I loved seeing her really get excited to see all her friends and her cake and she really understood that it was her party this year. Let's face it birthdays 1 and 2 are really for the parent's but by 3 kids are really staring to grasp things much better.  At age 3 is when many Orthodox Jews choose to start helping their children better understand their role in world. For Abby we have started teaching her prayers in Hebrew as well as how to dress modestly and do good deeds for others. Even more importantly though I think we are teaching her why we live as we do. Helping her to see what a powerful force for good she can be with every positive choice she makes and how what we do impacts others. As I was preparing for the party  I went to the local big party store to get stuff for "goody bags" you know the little plastic bags full of stuff that kids play with for a couple minutes then break or lose. All of which ends up in a landfill or as a wad of trash in the ocean. I just couldn't do it, I know the thought behind goody bags is a good one but as I looked at all that junk I thought there has to be something else we can do. So in the end we chose to try something different this year we made a donation to a wonderful charity called Heifer International in honor of all Abby's family and friends instead of handing out goody bags. The money will go to help an impoverished family that so desperately needs it. I was worried though would the kids miss the bags? Would they be disappointed? Not at all, they each got a balloon and a sticker that had the Heifer International logo and website on it and they were happy. One Mom even said she was happy to not have to take home another bag of junk. As we try to teach our children about their impact we have to remember our choices impact others too. On average parents spends 5 dollars per goody bag per child think of all the birthday parties all over the U.S. the difference we could all make if instead we gave that money to a charity. All of us giving to those in need instead of to the junk door. We are  all powerful we can make a change!