I’ve been thinking a lot about generosity lately. It’s a value I want my sons to have. I also know the best way to give them that is to model the behaviour myself.

I love the messages that come out of this post. The superhero who made the bad guys dinner because they were stealing food (and therefore must be hungry) melted my heart. It reminds me of the time I was trying to explain to my son why the guy we were walking past was homeless.

Him: Mummy why is that man sleeping there?

Me: Well he isn’t as lucky as us. He doesn’t have a bed of a home to live in.

Him: Shall we find him a house mummy?

Me: He needs money for a house and he doesn’t have any.

Him: Why can’t we just give him some of our money mummy?

Good point kiddo. Good point.

Reading up on generosity I found some startling facts and figures, like the fact that research shows it’s actually better to donate directly to the poor. This Ted video  has some interesting ideas on direct giving if you’re interested.

Today I gave some money to a homeless family who had spent the night in the subway. I gave the small amount of cash I had on me. It wasn’t a lot, but it was enough to buy the mom and her four daughters breakfast. Unfortunately the three year year old was at school and the three month old was more interested in chewing his fingers to see me modelling the behaviour. Oh well, maybe advent of good things should become year of good things… Actually let me think about that!