A few weeks ago, I had an idea. I was so excited to share it with my daughter. She loves the Christmas holiday and always struggles with the fact that we don’t have a tree, stockings, decorations or any of the things that other “normal” kids have in their homes. I know we have our own Jewish holiday in December but it is inevitable that our kids will feel different.

I figured my daughter would be really excited to share my idea.  I had decided to create a “mitten tree” for the professional woman’s group of the local Dress for Success program. I have been a volunteer with the program for several years. A friend of mine works there so I knew I could find out what these woman wanted or needed for the holidays and my networking group plus the volunteers at Dress for Success could help provide all of these items. I assumed my daughter and I could work on the project and she would enjoy making the Christmas Tree and mittens.

I gathered all the items we would need for our project. The kids had the day off from school so it was a relaxed morning. From the very beginning, all my daughter did was complain and whine. She kept saying she hadn’t volunteered for this and asking how soon would we be done.  I continued working on the project even with her complaints and began to read her some of the items that the woman had asked for. The first item requested was dance pants for a 13 year old girl. My daughter wondered how someone who needs a holiday gift can pay for dance lessons for their child. I suggested maybe a scholarship. The next request was for a Burger King gift certificate so a woman and her husband could go out to dinner. My daughter commented that Burger King is not a very special place to go out with her husband.  I suggested that maybe that was all they could  afford. Finally, the last request was from a woman who asked for a gift card for gasoline. My daughter was quiet for a few minutes. And then said, “Wow, Mommy I am really lucky.  We have a house, we have food to eat, we aren’t worried about paying our bills or buying gas. I am glad we are doing this together.” Then she chose a mitten for a grandmother who was raising her grandson and needed a winter suit as our gift to purchase for the mitten tree.

In this holiday season it doesn't matter what holiday you celebrate, or whether you have the decorations or not. It's important to teach your children about giving and receiving. Making a difference in other people's lives. Even though we got off to a rocky start I think that my daughter eventually got that message.

Wishing all of the Modern Jewish Moms a wonderful Hanukkah

Linda Cohen

Linda lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband, two children

and their dog. For more mitzvah stories: check out her blog at www.1000mitzvahs.org.

 

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