Give a working couple or a single mom a break by providing them with a few hours of free childcare.
Level: Community—Peace Principle: Community
This week’s featured story came in from Alpharetta, GA, USA:
When I was a young girl, too young to babysit, I posted advertisements all over our community offering to be a Mother’s Helper. As a Mother’s Helper I would play with/entertain someone’s children so they could get work done around the house. It was a win-win situation. The mothers got their housework done and I got to play with children and build a client base for when I was old enough to be left alone with other people’s children.
Well financial situations were very different in that economy, and many of my neighbors tried to pay me for the time I spent with their children. After my mother explained that even though money was nice, the gesture of doing something out of the kindness of my heart was even more rewarding, I began to refuse payment for my time.
For many, the expression “time is money” rings very true. But imagine the difference you can make, during these tough economic times, when you give freely of your time. Money is not a resource which we all have access to. But what we can share are our hearts and homes. I encourage you to participate in This Week’s Peace Action, it will give you a fresh perspective on the wider impact your small gifts of kindness can have.
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I find This Week’s Peace Action very moving, not because it recalls my past volunteer jobs, but because I was one of those babies who benefited from “free childcare”.
From the date I was born till the age of 10, my family shared a mid-sized community play area with 10 different families. But in my mind we acted like ONE big family. Back in the day, because both my parents worked long hours, I was taken care of by various neighbors. For me, the next-door kids who I grew up with were my siblings; and their parents who looked after me while my parents worked late were my second “Daddy” and “Mommy”. I sincerely appreciate the time and love they devoted to me and all the warm memories we had together.
People are certainly different nowadays. We always expect SOMETHING when our time is invested. I believe This Week’s Peace Action can bring out the kindness in our heart and deliver it to those who are in need.
-Yi Wang, Hangzhou, China
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