Bathrobe Kindness

I have been thinking a lot about KIND KIDS lately.  Maybe it is because it is the holidays, a time kids usually adore.  Or maybe it is because of Bana Alabed, a child in Aleppo who has been Tweeting about her horrible plight there (and who thankfully made it out safely, though many others just as deserving did not have the same plight).  Or maybe it is because I personally am feeling disenchanted with the state of our country and looking to kind kids gives me hope that maybe they can turn things around and make the world a better place in the future…

Recently I wrote about Kind Kid Madelene Kleinhans, who saw a need for siblings like her and FILLED it, and is now envisioning growing her organization nationwide ( Heartfelt Kindness ).  Earlier in this project I wrote about Khloe Thompson, a Kind Kid who is making a big difference for the homeless in her community ( Karing Kindness ) .  Well, today let me tell you about BENJAMIN.  Oh sure, some of you might read about his creation and think it is all “fluff”, but I am here to tell you that Benjamin is onto something, friends.  Benjamin has come up with a kind concept that is exactly what we all need right now about now.

  

Benjamin, inventor and organizer of an international event

May I introduce – INTERNATIONAL BATHROBE DAY. 

International Bathrobe Day is the brainchild of Benjamin Lahann, who came up with it at the young age of 10.  I asked him what inspired what has become an annual event, and he gave me the skinny, “I got a bathrobe for Christmas from my grandma.  I thought, ‘This is really comfy.  Why can't we just have a day to wear our robe and eat pie and watch movies?’ ” And THAT, my friends, is how a holiday is invented.

International Bathrobe Day (which we will call IBRD for short) is now in its fourth year.  Over 700 people have participated in previous events, and 135 people have already expressed that they will be there this year!  That is a lot of people in bathrobes!  Now when I say “be there”, I do not mean there will be hundreds of people congregating in Benjamin’s living room in their bathrobes.  No, the beauty of IBRD is that you celebrate it wherever you happen to be on the first Saturday after Christmas!  Here is the official blurb from this year’s IBRD invitation:  “(This is) a day to stay in your bathrobe, eat pie (or the comfort food of your choice), watch movies and read books. Started by my son who was 10 years old at the time after a hectic Thanksgiving/ Christmas season. Traditionally observed the first Saturday after Christmas. Held in the comfort of your own home (by yourself or with others). Can't celebrate the Saturday after Christmas? Celebrate on a different date :)”.

Best advertisement ever for International Bathrobe Day. 

As you can see from the official invite, IBRD is a bit of a loosey goosey holiday.  Sure, there is a suggested date (this year it falls on December 31).  And yes, there is a suggested food (pie).  But if that date doesn’t work for you, choose another!  And if pie isn’t to your liking, pig out on another comfort food!  The point about IBRD is – to relax, man, cuz, it’s all good!!

And maybe you noticed, but as the title suggests this is an international event…  Benjamin told me, “Because the title DOES have the world INTERNATIONAL in it... We've had people from Canada, Germany, Australia, Thailand, Japan and the Philippines join in.”  Isn’t that fantastic?  Imagine all of those people in different countries, in different time zones, all chillaxing in robes, watching movies, and eating pie…  Heaven!

Benjamin explained that, “One of the reasons we celebrate is because the school year and holiday season are so busy with activities and chores.  I like the fact that people are joining in on IBRD – they have a day when they can relax.”

Benjamin and his family in one of their annual photos with Santa.

I know Benjamin’s parents, and I can vouch that they are excellent kindness role models.  It is not surprising that all 3 of their kids are kind.  Besides being the organizer of an international event, Benjamin told me he also volunteers, “at my church with the kids and the annual Thanksgiving meal.  I also volunteer through Scouts, including helping the younger members of the troop with their requirements.  I put aside 10% of my allowance to donate to various causes, including Harvesters, our local food bank, the Red Cross and adopt a family programs at Christmas.  Mostly, I just try to be a good friend and a nice person.”

And really, in this time of uncertainty in the world, isn’t that what we should ALL strive for – to just BE A GOOD FRIEND AND A NICE PERSON.

And let’s close this out with the official greeting of International Bathrobe Day, shall we?  “Have a Magnificent International Bathrobe Day!”

If you would like to join in on this fabulously relaxing holiday, I would be happy to hook you up with an invite!  I have participated in previous years and know that it is quite fun (and relaxing!!).  Shoot me an email at kindnessactivist@gmail.com or comment on the IBRD post on the Kindness Activist site on Facebook letting me know you want to join and I will include you on the official Facebook invite J .

Karing Kindness

I saw a video recently that went viral that really caught my eye – maybe you saw it, too.  It was about a little girl named KHLOE who has a project called KHLOE KARES.  Here’s the video on Pop Sugar Celebrity:  

  

Khloe and Khloe Kares have seriously gone VIRAL!  Her beautiful caring (karing J ) is being shared on so many different fronts!  The Huffington Post did a piece: Huffington Post piece  Cosmopolitan did a piece:  Cosmo piece (not sure how her mom feels about her daughter being called “badass” in that one!).  Even People Magazine did a feature on Khloe!  People piece

9 year old Khloe “klicked” with me for a couple of reasons.  First off, she and I share the same last name!!  And secondly, she and I both hand things out to homeless people!!  So I decided I needed to talk with this little girl to see what makes her tick.  I mean, she is definitely a Kindness Activist! 

Konnecting with Khloe via email was easy, but konnecting on the phone was much harder…  Khloe and her mom are stars right now, and I am sure their phone is ringing off the hook and they are travelling here, there, and everywhere to get the word out about Khloe Kares.  After a couple of failed attempts at talking on the phone, we settled on email.  Here’s what she and her mom had to tell me.

Khloe on a bag delivery mission!

Khloe, who will be in 4^th grade when school goes back in the fall, kept walking by a homeless woman in her Irvine, California community.  So she decided to do something to help out – she started making her Kare Bags.  She and her grandma sew them out of fabric!  Isn’t that terrific??  When I hand things out to homeless people I usually put the goods into Ziploc bags, but Khloe saw the need for these women to have functional, lasting, and might I say, STYLISH bags!!!  She and her grandma have sewn 200 so far!

I asked her what exactly they put in the bags, and she told me: “We put a lot of stuff in the Kare bags like tooth brush and toothpaste, socks, lotion, soap, shampoo and conditioner, feminine products, wash cloths, wipes, hand sanitizer, deodorant, first aid kits and we just added tee shirts, sun block and toilet paper“.  Isn’t that great??  I think their new additions are perfect and will really be helpful to the lucky women in California who receive them!

A very grateful recipient of one of Khloe's bags

Sharing these essential items with women gives them more than the toiletries, it gives them a connection.  I bet they are so happy to have an interaction with Khloe.  She said that giving women the bags, “Makes me feel good that I'm helping. And maybe even putting a smile on their face,” and told me that the women always tell her thank you, God Bless You, and give her hugs J .  I am guessing those hugs mean even more to them than the shampoo.

I asked Khloe’s mom to describe her daughter in 3 words and she chose:  giving, sweet, and compassionate.  Would we all like to raise children with those traits??  She told me, “It's always hard for me and her dad to take credit for Khloe and her kind spirit. She was born like that. We truly believe that God made her this way. She has always been a sweet little girl. Any advice I would give to other parents is support their dreams and visions. That's what we did. And it turned into something positive where she is helping others.” 

Khloe getting one of those hugs she mentioned!!

And when I asked if all of the recent media buzz has been difficult for such a young child, her mom said, “Khloe has always been a kind little girl. And even with all the attention she is getting she is still grounded and at the end of the day her mission is to help people.”  I say – go Khloe go!!  While other kids her age might be playing video games or watching television, she is getting out into her community and making a big difference!  And inspiring others to do the same.

Khloe wanted to make sure that people hear about another big project Khloe Kares is doing - a toy drive on July 16th. “We will be donating toys to the kids at the Raise Foundation. It's going to be a fun day and a day of giving back.”  You just know that if this toy drive is anywhere near as successful as the purses she makes, there are going to be LOTS of children made happy by her activism.

I think Khloe summed herself up perfectly when she said, “I'm just a normal kid that has big dreams. “

Way to go, Khloe.  You are an inspiration.  Thanks for shining your bright light in this world and helping so many homeless women. Your kindness has made us all, including your parents, more aware of this population that needs assistance.  Her mother said, “She has opened our eyes and she has giving us a new respect for the homeless community. Treat everyone with love and respect.”  I think we can all agree to that! 

To learn more about Khloe Kares go to:  Khloe Kares

And to donate to her GoFundMe campaign, see:  Khloe Kares GoFundMe

For other stories and photos of kindness, make sure to like our Facebook page - Kindness Activist