Special kids get chance to play
Benefit held for crash victim
WSU vs. Milwaukee
Home > Blogs > Adventures in Motherhood > Archives > 2009 > December > 14 > Entry
Used toys still have a lot of “fun” left in them
Seems like just last year I was the one asking “How many more days until Christmas?” Now I am the one answering, “12 more days, guys.”
The older I get, the faster Christmas comes around. It used to feel like an eternity between Santa visits, but since I’ve had children it seems like the Christmas tree is growing in the living room.
I’m a purger, especially before Christmas. Clothes, toys, whatever - if they haven’t been used in the last 12 months, they are out. Thus, there I stood again, staring ominously at the mountain of toys that had built up in the playroom. “I can’t believe my kids have a room just for toys,” I said to myself. Granted, not a huge room, but still a room. For toys.
When we learned The Sister was coming, we knew the boys choosing to share a bedroom would no longer be a choice, but a solution to our need for a nursery again. Nick took over the bottom bunk in Noah’s room when Noah migrated to the top bunk. We let Nick sleep there, but didn’t move any of his clothes or play things. Despite my efforts to move as much as possible into the donation pile, I still couldn’t get the combined items comfortably into one room or closet. Hence, the playroom.
It was time for our annual lesson in giving. “OK, guys, if you don’t play with a toy anymore we’ll give it to someone who will.” We then talked about how blessed we are to have these things and a home to keep them in - something I like to remind them of at every opportunity I can.
While sifting through the toy boxes, I actually began to feel guilty - and even embarrassed - by the amount of stuff that had accumulated. The number of Happy Meal toys alone gave me a stomach ache. “We don’t need all of this,” I thought as my mind went to the children who had nothing.
On a trip to Nicaragua this year, my husband encountered a little boy playing in the dirt with a broken toy. It was all the child had, but he had a big smile that tugged at my husband’s heart. “I just wanted to give him all of those toys in the playroom,” he said. Instead, he went to the child’s parents and gave them some money, asking that they use it for the child. They were so grateful.
There are many families locally, facing hard times, who would also be eternally grateful. My boys and I filled several bags with toys and stuffed animals that day, many like-new. We took them to a donation center that will make sure a child in need receives them.
Although we won’t see the faces of the children when they get their toy, it felt good to know we could make a difference. You can, too.
Email this contributing writer at Motherhoodcolumn@yahoo.com.
Some locations accepting gently used toys include: Mercy Parent-Infant Center 40 W. High St., Springfield (937) 322-4939
Hannah’s Treasure Chest 124 Westpark Road, Centerville 937-438-5039
Salvation Army, Springfield For drop-off locations call (937) 322-3434
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Motherhood Column
Comments