I was frustrated with my girls when we returned from Honduras. Especially with my Hadley, who has always loved all material objects including papers with unfinished scribbles, way too much. I've told her we should love God and people more than we love things, but the old writing rule of show, don't tell is true in life sometimes too. I had hoped Honduras, with its joyful, toyless hours, would teach her these deeper truths (they had toys, but mostly toddler toys). But she is seven, perhaps I was expecting too much.
Upon our return to the States, Great Grandma gave each girl a crisp $10 and, then, inexplicably, her neighbor that we've never met did too. Suddenly the girls had $20. I give the girls an allowance and teach them principles like save some and give some, but with gift money I usually let them decide what to do. I watch, breathless, hoping the carefully taught principles with be voluntarily applied. Kassy is always eager to please and would happily give away or save all her money. Or she wants to do what Hadley does. Hadley is greedy, anxious to acquire some new treasure, which will be forgotten in a few short days. And so, upon return to Michigan, Hadley began her daily beg for a trip to Toys'R Us.
I couldn't help myself, neither could Tom. We lectured and reminded about Honduras, imploring her to see the bigger picture. But she didn't care. She spent all $20 on a pack'n play for her baby doll. I even suggested we could find such a treasure at a garage sale for $5 or less. Still, she insisted, and though my heart sank, I had given my word she could spend the money as she wished and I let her buy the toy. Two weeks later, it creates spots of pink light on the carpet on the sun shines through it.
My expectations of what Honduras could change in my 7-year-old were too high though I might never know what the effects really were. Then yesterday, Tom announced to the girls that it was time for a toy clean-out. We usually do these twice a year--once at Christmas and once at birthdays. We declare that each child must get rid of 5-10 toys before new treasures arrive. If Hadley is home, it is a miserable event. Kassy will pick her ten things and then Hadley will start crying that Kassy is getting rid of some toy she personally loves. Usually the toys end up being plastic junk prizes from a school fair or well-meaning community events.
The girls heard daddy's announcement and ran upstairs--avoiding the declaration? Fifteen minutes later they came down, arms full of twenty-three stuffed animals!(Embarrassingly there are still over 50 stuffed animals in this house, have you ever counted yours? I think stuffed animals breed, like rabbits). Inexplicably they tackled the playroom next, getting rid of toys and puzzles they don't use, talking to each other kindly and logically. I held my tongue as they chose to get rid of some my favorite toys, but I would not interrupt this phenomenon with my sentimentality.
So, maybe they did learn a few things. We've decided to have a little toy sale. We will donate the profits, which will be small, to our friends in Honduras. I'll sell their old clothes too. And I was wondering, if any of your kids would like to get rid of toys too, and help us raise money for the orphanage?
