This morning I woke up to one of my favorite Facebook memories. It was a post from this day last year, reflecting on some time we spent at Blythedale Children's Hospital in Valhalla, New York. The girls were 8, and it was their 1st time in a setting with special needs children.
My daughters were born premature at 31 weeks, and with that came a few scary moments when they were infants. My pediatrician always told me, if there is time, take the 1 hour drive and bring the girls to the children's hospital. My daughter's are not special needs, but the hospital has a vary special section where special needs children can resident. This place has always had a special place in my heart, and volunteer each year to help throw an annual party for the resident children there. So I brought my daughters with me for the 1st time.
We assisted in throwing the children a Halloween party. OMG, it was such a special moment for all of us. The girls had an amazing time with the children. They assisted the children who needed it, played cornhole, made picture frames, and so many other activities! To this day, they ask me when we can go back to Blythedale "to do something nice for the kids". There were many lessons learned that day including the value of giving. Giving is not always synonymous with money. Maya and Jadyn learned how to lend themselves to others. They learned, through action, what it means to do something nice for someone else without expecting anything in return; And the impact giving in that way has in someone else's life. Due to COVID-19, we are unable to volunteer this year, but I encourage you show your children how to give within your own communities.
Do you have a daughter who loves Disney like we do?? If they've never read Beauty and the Beast, there is an amazing version that you can customize with your child in the story. You can check it out HERE...
Here is a picture of Maya (left) and Jadyn (right) with Princess Belle, one of their favorite Disney Princesses! This picture was taken after the Halloween party was over, and it is a memory that will forever be in our hearts.
