What a beautifully written article Nell :) Something I will also be teaching my son is that when you do a nice gesture for another person, not to expect anything back. That way if you do get something back, it's a bonus and if you don't you don't get disappointed. Besides, random acts of kindness are supposed to be because you wanted to, not because you expect something in return.

 Your son sounds like the sweetest kid :)

 Beautiful advice. Thank you.

This article is absolutely beautiful!! You have some truly amazing sons there and you should be proud!! xox

Kindness is the highest form of wisdom.  :) 

What a beautiful and moving article!

I am so glad to read that being kind is still a thing that we should want to instill in our children and to show them to be proud of showing kindness. So often these days, showing kindness is belittled as being walked over! As if being considerate and polite will mean you somehow miss out on something that you are entitled to.

I have always been someone that smiles at people if they happen to glance my way. It is such a simple act of kindness and acknowledgement. Even if people are intentionally rude or inconsiderate to me I think it is better for me to be polite and, if I feel angry, I remind myself that you should treat people the way you would want to be treated.

It is best summed up by a Bhuddist story I read(and forgive my paraphrasing !) , that had an apprentice following his Teacher, whom was condsidered very wise and enlightened. Along their journey they came to river that had no bridge and needed to be crossed by walking throught the water to reach the other side.  At the waters edge they met an old woman whom was trying to cross, and when she saw the apprentice and his master she began to complain that she " shouldn't have to wade across this river! It is terrible that any one would expect such an old woman to do this!" Then rounding on the apprentice she began to berate him for not offering to carry her across, and him being such a young and fit young man and didn't he respect his elders and betters? The apprentice was understandabley angry at the old woman and said rather roughly that it wasn't his job to carry old women across rivers, especially rude old women like her!

At this point the apprentices Teacher says to the woman, " I may not be as young and fit but I would gladly carry you on my back across the river. " Gladly the woman accepted and she was carried across the flowing river to the other side.

As the apprentice and his Teacher continued on their journey, the apprentice spoke at length about why the old woman was so rude and spoke of all  the reasons for not helping her, and he admitted that he really couldn't understand why his Teacher had helped her at all?

His Teacher replied, " I may have carried her across the river, but I was able to put her down, once we reached the otherside."

Thanks again for such an inspirational writing!

Kindest Regards

Tina72

Great article I have 4 kids but their is one who from a very early age could always pick up if I was upset even when I was trying to hide it he would say what's up Mum and I swear sometimes he could read my mind on a few occasions I was thinking about something he would say to me what did you just say and I would say I didn't say anything very uncanny has anyone else ever had that experience. As a young child I could always pick up if someone was upset even if I didn't know them that well maybe kids just have more of an awareness as when we are adults we just get lost in the worries of the day, however I still have that ablity to know when things aren't right with people, sometimes just a kind word or smile works when you see people are a bit down or even to say is everything alright or do you need a hand. If I see someone at a barbqueand they are sitting by them selves even if I don't know them I will start a converation with them and I am pretty shy at the best of times but you have to get past that and sometimes you find they are really interesting people.

Thanks for your words of wisdom! I especially agree with your last point. It is always our first reaction to not want to accept help, from a child or whoever. Sometimes we may not realize that by rejecting someone's help, we may be causing them to feel unimportant. Thanks again!

this has just brought tears to my eyes when i was nine i caught the bus and did some christmas shopping for mum and for the family that was boarding in our house. whilst i was waiting for the bus on the way home i decided to leave my shopping (ncluding a little plastic fashion bag that i had the remainder of my money and my return bus ticket )to a young family that i thought i could trust ) so i could buy a drink from coles  a department store from an electric drink crush dispenser. when i came out to the bus stop which was right in front of the store the family had duisappeared!

i strated crying as i had no way to get home and this very kind old lady (bless her soul  as this happened 42 years ago ) gave me ten cents for the bus home. that was a lot of money for those days.

until this day i will never forget that act of kindness it always brings tears to my eyes

annie

Wonderful.. it's so hard to find kind people now a days. it's been ages since I came across one!

Kindness iss worth handing around,your son sounds like a wonderful child you should be proud,but remember that we give evrything we have to our child from conception....as ive beeen told by many teachers even if you believe you havent played a large part in the way your child is,you have by just being his mum.

Kindness is a very important things.  The selfless acts of one person to another are the greatest gifts we can receive.

I hope your son is starting to understand that he isn't stupid, just unique and just as precious as any other child.

awww.... it must be PMS because I'm all teary!

the other night, I was feeling really really down after talking to my daughter's father on the phone, and I started crying. I usually save the tears for when she's in bed because I don't want her to think that daddy makes mommy cry, but I just couldn't help it. She came into the computer room and grabbed my hand and lead me to the couch. Then she covered me with a blanket and got a story book and started "reading" it to me. It was so sweet!

I love the part where you're son gave you his piggy bank and you bought bread and milk with it. A lot of parents would have just thanked the kid and sent him on his way, but you showed him that his thoughtfulness was wanted. AWWWW You must be such a great mom!

Your son sounds wonderful!

When I taught children's gymnastics, I had gone through the most terrible day of my life and accidentally was a bit cranky with some of the kids in the class. I realised immediately what I had done and called them all in and apologised and said "Im really sorry, just because I had a bad day, doesn't mean I have the right to speak to you in a cranky way. You are all great kids, I hope you'll all forgive me." After the class went back to having fun and learning gymnastics, one of the girls came over to me and she said "Don't feel bad, I love you lots when you're cranky". I said "How can you love me lots if Im being cranky?" and she said "That's when you need love the most". Isn't that the most beautiful thing you ever heard. I hugged her and had to walk away. She brought tears to my eyes. Children are so fantastic!

Tanya :)

HI,

I think you are so right. My daughter is only 19 months old yet she is so sweet. If someone is upset I don't send them away so as not to distress Tasha. I invite them in and give them a big hug and listen. Natasha has already displayed so much kindness. If she sees someone hurt or crying she approaches them and pats their back, gives them a cuddle, or sings to them (sometimes all three). I see this as a good sign I am on the right track. I teach her to find flowers (weeds) to pick and give them to Nana because they are so pretty it will make her happy. Tasha obliges and usually brings me some too. She always shares and I'm so happy her personality is developing so beautifully.

I raised my guys that way and they have spread it well. You do a little,make someone else feel special,they pass it along,or sometimes you're the only one that knows how much out of your way you went to help but that's totally O.K..I figure if we had more people like nell18-3 it would go faster!!!   Making the world a better place that is ;) !

that is truly a beautiful gift you have given your children... i am in awe.

my son does things like that if im sick. he tried to tuck me in bed once and read me a story and i nearly cried it was so cute and so out of character for such a hyped up crazy kid like him.

GREAT ARTICLE . . . . . . there's really nothing else I can say!!!!

WOW . . . . .. MWA

I think everybody needs reminding about kindness every now and then. You have a great young man there.

 Lexi xxx