Kind Kids

Let’s talk about KIND KIDS.

 

You may have heard me say this before, but I repeat it because it is so true:  KIDS.  GET.  IT.

 

They do!  Kids understand being kind.  They like to be kind.  And if they are given opportunities to do so (and examples of how to do so) – they spread kindness like wild flower seeds.

 

So today I want to share the stories of 4 KIND KIDS that happened just this week.  These are 4 kids in my community.  I am sure if you look around your community (it won’t be too hard, I promise), you will find children near you demonstrating kindness to the world, too. 

 

First off, these cuties – S and H (brother and sister).  Their school was delayed for 2 hours on Friday because of a water main break.  Because of that their house and many in their neighborhood didn’t have any water.  Now, many kids would be delighted when they heard school was delayed.  I mean – that could be 2 extra hours in bed!  Or a trip to the park!  Or puzzles or Lego or coloring or Pokemon or watching a movie… 

 

But S and H had a kind idea of how to use those 2 hours.  Instead of PLAYING, they would spread kindness!  Their mom helped them put their plan into action by taking them to the local grocery store (because sometimes acts of kindness need a little assistance). 

 

Kind Kids in action!

  

You see, their idea was to get WATER for all of their neighbors! 

 

So, they stocked up on water then got busy delivering it house to house!  And to make it even MORE special, H chanted, “Kind is Cool!  Kind is Cool!” while they were out on deliveries. 

 

Isn’t that so fun?  And their act of kindness actually had an immediate kindness ripple.  The employee at the grocery store commented that they were sure buying a lot of water.  When they explained their mission, he went to the bakery in the store and brought them each back a COOKIE.  Thanks grocery guy!

Working hard to spread kindness

 

(P.S. – H and S do loooots of kind things.  Why, just the other day they came over to help Kindness Activist make lots of cool shaped crayons!)

 

The next kind kid being highlighted today is Ixel.  Ixel is a proud member of the Pantry Crew and does many very kind things. 

 

One thing Ixel is adamant about is making sure pantry guests have adequate supplies for when they are having their periods.  She knows how important that is both for health and dignity.  (I don’t think she knows how expensive tampons and pads are, and that people cannot use their EBT cards to purchase them, which is a whole other story that I shouldn’t get started on because I will get riled up about how unfair it all is…).

 

Anyway, since Ixel likes to put period supplies in the pantry, when we recently had a big donation of pads, I asked her if she would take on the job of putting them into baggies and she kindly agreed. 

 

Hard at work making sure pantry guests have period supplies

And then something perfect happened.  When Ixel and her mom were bringing the bags of pads back over to put in the storage area, they saw some guests at the pantry.  It was three women who stop by once a week and they were looking in the pantry.  I think that they clean the home across the street, and when they are finished cleaning, they put all of their supplies back in their car and walk over to the pantry to see if there is anything they need.  I have watched them before – they are very sweet and are careful to share with one another. 

 

When Ixel saw them, she asked if they needed any pads.  Of course they said YES!  So, Ixel explained the different kinds of pads she had just bagged up and gave them their options.  Not only did they get feminine hygiene products, they got CHOICES!  (And they got to have a conversation with Ixel’s mom about how expensive it is to buy pads in the store!)

 

I love that Ixel is so kind and so comfortable talking about periods.  Those women were lucky to be at the pantry at just the right time!!

P.S. - Ixel did all of that work on the day her school was cancelled!  

 

The last kind kid for today is June Bug.  If you have read other entries here you may remember her for hosting a Kindness Hot Cocoa stand a few months ago.  She decided she wanted to use some of the money she raised at the stand to buy toys for children in the hospital, and yesterday was DELIVERY DAY.

 

June Bug, her mamma Kasey, and I drove to Children’s National Hospital in Washington DC.  That’s where her mom used to work as a nurse, and she knows people who work there, so we knew those people would help the special toys find the perfect kids.  We were excited!

 

We got to meet some of Kasey’s friends and June Bug gave them the donations (she even gave the special teddy bear that is super duper soft that she loved).  She explained the “rules” that she had thought up:  the “lip sticks” (chap sticks) were to be split up out of the packaging and one given to each kid.  And that the VERY SPECIAL bigger toys were for kids whose parents weren’t at the hospital with them (because they would need toys more) and for kids who had to stay for overnight or a few days.  The staff listened carefully to her instructions and I am quite sure will follow them.

 

June Bug and all of the special toys she chose to donate to sick kids

What joy and kindness June Bug brings to the world.  She asks 5,000,000 questions a day (approximately) and has a very caring heart.  She and the other kids you just read about exemplify kindness.  We could all learn a thing or two from them.

 

Do you know a kind kid who would be willing to share their story with me?  Please send me an email telling me about them – KindnessActivist@gmail.com . 

 

Because the world needs more kindness.  And more stories of kindness.  We can make it a kinder place – just one small act of kindness at a time.

Bonus photo of Ixel doing ANOTHER kind thing - taking big jugs of cooking oil that were donated to the Little Yellow Free Pantry and pouring them into smaller jars.  That way more families get oil.  She is great at this job, too, and enjoys doing it.

P.S. - No June Bug, I don't know how that crane "got on top of that tall building".

P.P.S. - No June Bug, I am not sure why that person was mean.

P.P.P.S - Well June Bug, I think that is the Potomac River we are crossing.

P.P.P.P.S. - and on and on and on :) . 

WMATAing

This is a story about a little boy who loves METRO TRANSIT.

A creative mom.

An observant neighbor.

And a very, very kind man.

It starts with a creative mom named Becki who posted this in a local Facebook group: “In search of tall square skinny boxes.  My son is obsessed with Metro, so I had the genius idea to spray paint a box to look like the metro pillars (signs).  He wants to make more than one station, so if anyone has a box laying around, I’d love to have it!  Also, if you happen to have any other Metro swat laying around we’d take it.  All he talks about are trains and buses 😊.”  She also shared a photo of an iconic Washington DC metro sign she had made (which is brilliant if you ask me).

Brilliant replica of a Washington DC Metro Stop sign made out of a cardboard box

What followed were LOTS of comments on the post.  People who said they would look for boxes.  People who shared photos of boxes they were excited to donate.  People whose kids had old Metro things they would pass along.  A person in an amazing Metro themed costume.  And people who understood exactly where this mamma was coming from because their kids were metro obsessed, too.  Becki replied to one comment by sharing this about her son, “He pretends he’s driving a bus or train all day long.  He goes outside on his scooter to go “WMATAing,” (WMATA is the name of the Washington DC transit system – he has turned it into a verb!).

A neighbor shared this photo of her child (now a teen) when he was in
his "Metro" stage (photo shared with teen's permission)

A neighbor shared this hilarious costume of her dressed
as the Dupont Circle Metro sign!  The M even LIT UP!

What also followed was one neighbor, Heidi, seeing a WMATA employee “in the wild” standing outside our local post office, remembering the request for the kid who loves metro, and her being brave enough to reach out.

You see, acts of kindness sometimes require you to step outside your comfort zone.  Actually – they often do!  Walking up to a stranger and asking them for something (or even offering them something for that matter) takes GUTS.  And Heidi has guts.

She approached the Metro employee whose name turned out to be Rick.  She told Rick about the little boy in the neighborhood who loves Metro, and Rick said he would be happy to help by seeing what swag he could put together for the child.

What a kind man!! 

So today, only 6 days after Becki’s ask for boxes, Rick and Oliver met up in the Post Office parking lot.  Rick gave Oliver (who came dressed for the occasion in a WMATA safety vest) a bag of Metro gear.  He had also put together a second bag of goodies for another sweet kid in the community obsessed with Metro.

An imaginary Metro employee got to chat with a real Metro employee

I got to stop by and meet Rick and Oliver, too.  I talked with Oliver about all things Metro – his favorite stop, which bus he rides (the ART bus – to go the library!), which metro stop has the longest elevator, why the bus is so fun (you get to push the button to ask for your stop!, how to get to his grandma’s house on the silver line…  You know, the kind of stuff Metro lovers chat about.

And we got to thank Rick for his kindness.  He didn’t have to go out of his way and collect things to give to these kids.  He didn’t have to take time on a Sunday to meet with the little admirer.  But he did.  And his kindness speaks volumes about what a great human he is.

Heidi, who was brave enough to approach Rick
and ask a big favor

Kindness Activist gifted Rick a Kind is Cool t-shirt and a Target gift card to thank him.  He didn’t do what he did for the thanks, but we wanted him to know that his generosity and kindness was noted and respected.

WMATA on, Oliver.  I hope to see you on a train one day.

Kindness Activist funds spent: $50

Delight in hearing a child talk about Metro: immeasurable