The Fish Pond: Kind Hearted

This morning Little Man came into the kitchen and grabbed his wallet out of my desk drawer where it lives when it isn't needed so I can keep siblings from stealing and help him think about his purchases so he can be intentional with his money.

"What are you getting your wallet out for?" He stood there counting his money, then muttering under his breath while I looked at him quizzically.

"Here. I have $135 saved up to give to Santa toward my iPod touch, so here's the rest, $28. It's for charity, I want you to donate it, then I'll be broke." He still believes in Santa despite the mounting evidence that everyone else over the age of eight doesn't. We know we need to tell him because he's getting teased, but aren't sure how to do it without breaking his heart. But I digress.

"Are you sure? Then you won't have anything left if anything comes up."

"I'm sure."

"Well, what charity do you want me to send it to?"

"Whatever you want. Just donate it." Then we had a discussion about how if he's going to donate his hard-earned money, it should be to a cause that is meaningful to him. We talked about his past charities (Children's Hospital, BREW Beagle rescue, and Susan G. Komen) and where we are right now, and how the son of my BFF's annoying little brother (who for a good chunk of my life might as well have been my own annoying little brother) has diabetes and the other one was diagnosed with leukemia last week.

"Yes, that. Send it all there," he said. So there it will go, along with a match from BDF and me.

If you need something to do with some of your hard-earned pennies, send them to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, for Ethan, and his dad, George. Because three year olds shouldn't have cancer, and parents shouldn't have that kind of stress, even annoying "little" brothers.