Mommy, Can I Help?

We were all so excited. We had a costume party coming up and everyone was talking about what we would wear and any necessary props. Since our group also had a booth at the event, the agenda for the night also included preparing the backdrop for our area.

As soon as my daughter saw the brushes she was excited as well. She has a love for art and was eager to help. Unfortunately, her aunt who was in charge of the set didn’t want her to take part because they feared that she might be more a hindrance than a help.

I saw my daughter watching forlornly from the side. She really wanted to be part of what was going on. She knew she could help, but no one would let her.

I bet this is true of all children. They want to be part, they are capable of accomplishing the task (with a little guidance) but very few adults will let them help. They feel left out and sad.

I am thankful that we finally managed to find her something to do. It gave her a sense of importance to be able to help.  We assigned her a task that she could do by herself, without our supervision and she did it well. She glowed at the praise she got.

What about your kids? Have you been ignoring their need to be part of your activities? Find a way to let them be part. It will bring you closer together and create memories that they will treasure. Who knows? They may just amaze you with their skills.