It was a rough week. The price of oil skyrocketed as the temperature dropped sharply in Maine. We were looking at a high of eight degrees that week, and I had missed three days of work so my paycheck was going to be lower than normal. I was stressed, to say the least. I shopped strategically looking for every possible way to cut pennies so I could buy groceries and keep the house warm.
My eight-year-old son didn’t understand when I told him we were struggling that week. He wanted a special kind of yoghurt, but I didn’t have the extra three dollars to buy it for him. It was the kind of yoghurt with a cartoon kid riding a skateboard on the front of the box, and a mere two spoonfuls in each cup. It was the kind of product that wastes a parent’s money and makes me hate advertising.
I felt guilty as a parent when those big eyes looked at me with confusion, as if to say, “It’s just yoghurt. What’s the big deal?” So I found a way. I put something back as single mothers often do. He got his yoghurt.
On the way driving back from the grocery store, I noticed a homeless man holding a sign by the side of the road. My heart hurt, and I tried not to look at him. I watched people stay away from him on the street and walk by without even meeting his eyes. My son didn’t seem to care much, either. I looked at the man closely then - bare hands grasping a piece of cardboard, snot (鼻涕) frozen to his face, a wornout jacket. And there I was struggling because I had to buy oil and groceries. But I decided to help. I pulled over to the man and handed him a five-dollar bill.
Seeing this, my son became confused and surprised. _______________________________________________________________________________ I explained that if we were blind to the poor man’s situation he would be freezing. He didn’t have a home or food to eat after all. We could spare five dollars even if we were financially stressed. ______________________________________________________________________________
On that day, my son performed an act that most adults wouldn’t have done._____________________________________________________________________________ Even if it was just a matter of a few spoonfuls of yoghurt it was all he had, and he gave it to someone who needed it more than he wanted it. He showed me that I am doing well as a mother! _______________________________________________________________________________
