Tragedy and trauma seem to be all around us. Mass shootings and terror have become our unfortunate new norm. And most of us wonder, how do we comfort our children? Chances are, we offer loving words, hold them close, answer questions, and guide them back to peacefulness. My favorite piece of advice in this category comes from the late Mr. Rogers’ mother:
“When I was a boy, and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’ To this day, in times of disaster, I remember my mother’s words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers – so many caring people in this world.” Fred Rogers
Look for the helpers! What a wonderful way to create future helpers. What if we taught our children this lesson before the next tragedy strikes? What if we helped our community and our children by being helpers every day? We could make an impact on this generation that could last for generations to come. Need some ideas to get you started?
* Make treats for a local senior center.
*Go shopping together! Purchase items for your local food bank and drop them off together!
*Collect clothing or personal care items to donate at a shelter.
*Run errands for an elderly member of your neighborhood.
*Collect new makeup and other personal items to donate at an abused women’s shelter.
* Make a gift basket for someone in crisis.
*Send a care package to someone in the military.
*Read! To an elderly person or a child in need.
*Make dinner for someone you know who might be lonely.
*Have a lemonade stand! Donate the proceeds to a local cause.
The possibilities are endless! Have another or a better idea? Share in the comments below, because we’re all in this together and we all have something to teach and something to learn.
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Laura Fogarty
Editor, Ask Lala
Laura Fogarty writes “Ask Lala” for the Stop Abuse Campaign. She is a mother, an advocate and the author of two children’s abuse prevention books: I’M THE BOSS OF ME! and WE ARE JUST ALIKE!