Family Volunteering and a Night of Independence

Today was Volunteer Kalamazoo’s first Family Day of Service honoring 9/11. The event was geared toward families, even families with young children. I helped to do set-up and run registration until I had to pick up my kids from daycare. I thought that the projects would be great for my kids to do, so I brought them back to the event so we could all volunteer together as a family.

In theory, that worked out awesome. In reality, however, it didn’t quite go as I’d hoped. We stopped at one project making place mats for a local homeless shelter. All the kids had to do was color a design on the place mat – anything they wanted. This was perfect for both of them. Violet started working diligently on her beautiful flower with grass and clouds and sun. Hayden drew two circles. And then he was done. With everything. I tried to keep him occupied, by letting him push in and pull out the chairs. That went well until he bashed his face with the chair. Next, I had him try to start another place mat while Violet worked on hers. He did okay with this. He was super excited to show my friend/coworker Amanda his drawing. In the process, got the place mat in his eye. More crying. We then moved on to trying to dance to the music being played by the guitarist and smiling for the photographer, who is a friend of mine. Yeah, didn’t happen. He then was crying again. Of course, of all the 100s of volunteers there tonight, I had the only crying child.

So, we left. I had Violet turn in her unfinished place mat, much to her dismay, and left. We picked up some candy on our way out. She cried as we were leaving because she wanted to volunteer some more. I just couldn’t make anyone happy. That is, until I picked up McDonald’s for dinner. We were so late that after we finished eating, it was already past Hayden’s bedtime. I gave Violet a ‘volunteer’ project while I put Hayden to bed. It said “I love volunteering.” She did great on it.

When I returned back downstairs, Violet was eating candy from the event. I thought nothing of it, other than taking it away from her because I told her she was done before dinner. She had finished her art project and had turned on Netflix all on her own (TV, receiver, PS3, logged in to everything correctly, and had chosen a new episode of Backyardigans). I sat with her to watch the show. After a few minutes, it dawned on me that the candy was in my car and that I hadn’t brought it into the house. I asked her where she got the candy.

Violet – I got it from your car.
Me – Are you supposed to go into my car to get things?
Violet – No. Plus it was locked, so I had to find your keys.
Me – You found my keys?
Violet – Of course. I found your keys, unlocked your car, found the candy, and locked your car again. All by myself. Aren’t you proud of me?

Wow. She’s only four. And yes, I am proud.