How Do You Leave Your Mark?

Well I think all of us here on MamaPedia, is everyday, every time they respond to a question or post a question, they are leaving a mark on others in some fashion, because they are responding with their opinions/expertise/heartfelt feelings and advice.

So, cheers to all the Moms here! Even if you are having a good day or a bad day or just want to vent.

And that, is making the day a little brighter for all of us.
Here.
In cyber society, on MamaPedia.

Because, it is the everyday things, no matter how mundane or ordinary... that add brightness or help to the Moms or Dads or Grandparents here.

It might seem small to some, but everyday I greet my "borrowed babies" with a smile, a hug and genuine love. I make sure that their parents can go to work without having to worry about their kids being mistreated or ignored. I celebrate in their accomplishments (had a two year old zip up her own coat today and thought I was going to burst at the seams!) I make sure that they eat new foods and not the usual "kid stuff" and when they need arms, I give all of me to them. I kiss their boo-boo's, I help guide their parents, I teach kids to be kind to their friends, take care of our belongings, be respectful people who follow directions and understand the word "no."

I saw an old daycare mom last weekend at a show choir competition and she said to me "you were the only childcare provider who really ever loved my kids." I almost started crying right there. That is why I do what I do.

THAT is what I do everyday to make my mark. Some think daycare providers do what they do because they can't do anything else. I chose this profession as a career, knowing I would be helping parents raise their kids.

I just reread what I wrote and it sounds like I am beeping my own horn but I truly love what I do!

I play Santa Claus. I LOVE playing Santa. Its the most fun job I've ever had. Sorry this ended up being so long.

The photo crew said I saw between 8,000 to 10,000 kids in 2010 and around 10,000 kids in 2011. I was Santa from the 12th of November until Christmas eve. (BTW, it costs nothing to talk to Santa and for the kids to sit on my lap.)

Until the second week of December I have time to spend with the kids and parents and do "real" Santa things. I have my "elves" get the names of the children coming to see me and then tell me the names of the children just before they bring them to the couch I sit on. As they come to me I greet them by name and tell them, "Wow you have really grown since last year! I almost didn't recognise you." This always brings a smile to their faces and a look of wonder at Santa knowing their names. I lift the children so they sit on my lap. One on each leg and then on each side of me. Then I ask them what they want for Christmas. If its more than one child, I ask each child what they want and then look at the next child so they each get to tell me one gift. I then repeat the process again so they have a chance to tell me two gifts if they want. Most children have two things they tell me.

When there is only a short line (one or two families) or no line, I ask the kids how old they are. If they tell me 5 or older, I say, "Wow. Six is such a special age. Do you know what you get to do when you are 6? You get to help your mom set the table. (The moms and dads usually smile) Do you know how you know when its time to set the table?" (Some times they give me an answer. Its usually, "because mom tells me".) I say, in an excited voice, "No. You go into the kitchen and go (I do an exagerated deep breath) Mom, That smells GOOD! And I say "Your mom's a good cook, right?" and all the kids say yes and the moms smile. "Then you tap you mom on the shoulder (I tap the kids on the shoulder) and say, 'Mom, can I set the table, please." "And remember the please. Its really important." Then I look at the mom and say, "Isn't that right Mom? Please is important." ALL the moms say yes or nod their heads. I say, "Its really important for kids to help their mom."

"Now, what do you want for christmas?" They tell me.
"Oh I forget to ask, Are you getting your homework done?" They usually grimace.
"Oh, doing your homework is important. Did you know that?" They usually give me a questioning look.
"Oh Yes!" "Do you know what homework is?" They usually shake their heads indicating "No".
"Homework is just practice school." "Your mom is smart, right?" The kids nod their heads, yes.
"Every mom and dad I know of want their kids to grow up smarter than they are. I've known your mom and dad for a while and you have to do a lot of homework to be as smart as they are." Do you know why you have to be smart? "So you can get a good job." Do you know if you go to college and get a degree in engineering, you can get a job making $100,000 a year?"

I spent some extra time with a doubting 12 year old talking about carrying out the trash without having to be asked and doing his all his homework, not just part of it and going to college to get a real good job. After I turned around and went back to talk to the next family, I heard the mom say to her son, "Now that's a REAL Santa Claus." That totally made my season.

I love being Santa.

If the kids ask for an X-box, I ask them if they are being good enough for an X-box. "An X-Box? Wow, You have to be real good to get and X-box. Have you been good enough to get an X-box?" They always answer yes. "Do you do you home work when you get home without your mom asking you to? Do you get ALL your homework done, or just part of it?" Do you carry out the trash? How do you tell if its time to take out the trash?
"Mom or dad tell me to take out the trash."
Santa: "No, if they tell you, you waited too long. You take a look at the trash can and if you can't see any trash cause there is just a little in there, is it time to take out the trash? Of course not, but if you see the trash starting to spill over the top, then its time to take it out." What do you do next? "
Kid: "Take out the trash?"
Santa: "No! You go to your mom or dad and tap them on the shoulder (And I tap them on the shoulder) and say, "Mom or Dad, the trash can is over the top. May I take out the trash, please? And the please is really important. Isn't that right, Mom?" The moms always nod yes.

When the kids are done, I ask them, "Can you do something special for Santa?"
The kids nod yes.
Santa: "I want you to go to your mom (and dad) and give them a BIG hug and tell them, 'I love you, Mom." "Can you do that for me?"
Several moms and dads have gotten misty eyed when their kids did that. And almost all mouth the words, "Thank you". If they do, I always reply, "Merry Christmas from Santa."

I love being Santa.

4 or 5 times during the Christmas season one of the parents would tell me they had been out of work or had had their hours cut and they were looking for a job. My wife works for a company that is hiring, so shook their hands, told them the website and to look and see if they were qualified for the jobs offered. One lady, out of work for 18 months came by to tell me she had passed the test and had an interview.

I cannot begin to tell how "warm and fuzzy" that made me feel. Good luck to you and yours.

My area (Chicagoland) is filled with homeless people who are often panhandling near busy intersections. I rarely doubt that those who are standing on the corners for hours upon hours on bitterly cold & windy days are legitimately in need, but I am still uncomfortable with giving money. What I do, if I am able, is to give them food. Today I had just finished picking up some chicken kebabs & roasted veggies and was on my way home when I noticed that the same man who was standing out there when I had passed the intersection a few hours earlier was still there. I turned into the next parking lot, separated out my meal from my kids' food, and drove back and asked him if he wanted some food. He gave me a huge, toothless smile, thanked me profusely, wished me God's blessings, and I drove away in tears.

I can't go to Africa to work with the peace corps, or to Guatemala to work at the mission my mom worked at when she was young, but I can do what I can when I encounter someone in need in my daily life.

Sometimes I get down on myself that I'm not out there making a difference to others on a monumental scale. As a SAHM of three (one of which is still a toddler) with a husband who works very long hours and is also studying for exams, I don't have any free time to do anything.

I like to think that the way I raise my kids is "leaving my mark". I try to get them to see the moral and ethical side of every situation and hope that they grow up to be good, moral, productive citizens.

Great question!

Well to start, there's parenting. I would hope that all parents hope to make the world a better place by teaching their children to do the same. We should all leave the earth a little better than when we got here.

On a small level, I try to be the person who treats service people like, well, people - ask how a server is and wait for an answer, smile and sincerely thank the guy who fills my gas tank, sincerely tell a frazzled and slow cashier to not worry, I don't mind the wait. I try to be a respite in the day of someone who works a thankless and low wage job, because I always appreciated the unexpected touch of humanity when I was in those positions.

Volunteering to teach religious education in my parish has been a wonderful experience. It's a privilege to share my faith with children and be one of the people who helps them to form their faith. I don't care if they know their prayers by heart or can tell me the hierarchy of the church - I love hearing after the fact that one of my older students turned to God for comfort or help in making a decision, or that one of my little kids did the right thing on the playground and have them share that with their peers.

My big thing was becoming a gestational carrier surrogate for a friend of a friend who lost her uterus to cancer The babies I carried are now 2 years old. That was the most humbling, amazing experience!

We read the book Half the Sky in my women's network book club at work and some of my co-workers were moved to create a corporate campaign to raise money for Plan International, one of the organizations listed in the book. Company wide, they raised tens of thousands of dollars and are picking a project to fund now. To see that kind of effect from a few motivated colleagues who were moved to action from a book has been really amazing to witness.

Looking forward to reading other people's responses!

@ Charlotte...as a working mom, I'd like to say kudos to you and thank you for being a representative of the best of your profession. Good care givers do exactly what you describe! I was lucky to always have adequate child care and incredibly privileged to, for a short while, have exceptional care like you describe. Sounds like your parents are lucky to have their children in your care!

Wow, I'm checking out your blog...because I'm a bit bored reading about other people's kids and their parenting Ah-Ha moments.

I would be honored if you read about my daughter, who is serving with the US Peace Corps in Guatemala and leaving a big, big mark on her community. It is literally history in the making. Due to severe security concerns within the country, US Peace Corps is forever changing their role and future in Guatemala. In December 2011, several PCV (Peace Corps Volunteers) were robbed and molested on a bus. Another was raped and tortured on another bus, although in Honduras. Then the current dictator, who was inaugurated just a couple of weeks ago, invited the Iranian dictator to his ceremonies. The US is obviously against this alliance. The US Peace Corps has terminated all future training and assignments, and just pulled 180 PCV's from their sites for safety reasons. Half are being offered an early COS (Close of Service), half are being re-assigned into a safer region of the country. The most dangerous parts are of course the drug routes. Even though the police are being 'beefed' up in an effort to fight drugs, they are paid so little, that the drug cartels come in, offer a little soldier $20K to join them and naturally he defects to the drug side. Anyhow, my daughter is helping her community to build a school, the first, free Jr. High School. She has the plans, has raised all the necessary funds, has materials donated...but now she must say farewell to this huge project and to a community she has grown to love and serve...and she is filled with huge regret about how broken our world and society and government systems have become.

Her blog is: http://jaronelizabethreed.blogspot.com/

Me, I'm still raising 2 awesome kids at home, supporting an uber busy husband who cares for very sick patients and teaches the residents and finds funding for future research endeavors. And, I'm always, always kind to the special needs adults in the grocery stores. Plus I'm teaching adults with autism how to make my bath products starting next month.

I've written three books on shamanism which have been translated into 12 languages. They don't tell you about shamanism but how to do it. For instance to master an element (fire, water, air, earth) takes three and a half years at a minimum for each one. I teach how to do the meditiation and it's up to the person to stay steady and do it.

A friend of mine started this blog to stop cyber bullying among moms. You may want to check it out: http://www.themompledgeblog.com/

What is your blog? I'd like to visit it!

I will answer your question later, when I have time. It's a REALLY great question. Just don't have enough minutes right now :)

Im raising great children who i will teach to be empathetic useful members of the community.

I also live by the golden rule, and not at all hypocritically.

i recycle, im a vegetarian, i give to a charity called ''texas paralyzed veterans''(about 1 time a month, various clothes and objects)and i walk more than drive (does that count?), a family of four lives off of me rent free, and some have come before them, i have various loans out that i am owed, arghhh, and i always give food and spare change to the homeless when i actually have something other than plastic.

Im most proud and think my first answer will actually be of the greatest effect on the world.

Ok, so here goes! I volunteer my time and talents to two main projects that ultimately make my community a better place. Firstly I donate my time to my son's preschool, he attends an Early Learner's Center that was established to outfit the begining education needs for children who are experiencing developmental delays. Some of our children attend on a 30-90min/wk basis for only speech therepy, we have 340 students that attend in either the Full time (5days 2.5hrs/day) or part time (2 or 3 days 2.5hrs/day) to obtain more intense therepies (speech, occupational, physical, auditory etc) on a more frequent basis as well as begin to prepare for kinder and lay down a foundation. Our teachers work hard to get our children as close to their "correct age" functionalities in the time they have them while trying to engage the parents. I am on campus working on various projects at least once a week, there are times that it seems I live there! I head up the Scholastic Book Fairs and find activities and promotions for all the kids to enjoy no matter their developmental stage and help promote reading skills.By encouraging parents to read to their kids, encouraging our older ones to sound out those words or even tell the story in their own words based on the pictures. I am helping our TOTS president and a teacher re work the library this year and I collect monthly "Reading Logs" and reward our kids and families with a free book for participating. We have a large Spanish speaking population on our campus as we are a "Duel Language" Campus, this most recent book fair, my first, we had the largest Spanish selection we have ever had for a book fair and I plan to continue that with our upcoming Spring Fair. I feel being able to read in your own language as well as another is very important for our children, as well I feel it helps the non English speaking parents WANT to read to their children at home.
My second endeavor is a Community Singing Group (Schaumburg Park District Community Singers), we donate our time to nursing homes to bring them joy even if only for an afternoon. Since it is with the Park District and in order to keep the group going we do charge for some of our performances but we maintain to offer Community Service Performances during the year. Last year we donated our time to entertain during the Holidays for a food drive that was collecting food for our local food banks, as well as two performances for Nursing Homes, one on the Alzhiemers floor, on a community service base. I enjoy singing for our elderly because they typically enjoy it more than our other audiences quite frankly. Plus I love people who tell it like it is and I know of no other group of people that will lay it all out for you like our senor citizens! I am not sure how big of a mark it is but that's mine and I'm sticking to it!

Well, some of it's taken a back seat since I had children because I honestly believe charity starts at home.

However, I still volunteer weekly at our Senior Center...I play piano for their lunch every Friday. My six year old has been coming with since she was two, and she visits with the seniors while I play. I think they enjoy her more than me. :)

I play piano at my church for both the English and Spanish services (which are held at the same time...lots of running up and down stairs.) I also attend weekly music practices with our hispanic brothers and sisters and have learned to speak decent Spanish just in order to fellowship with them.

We, as a family, give to Voice of the Martyrs.