Page 13 - Small Shops of Sonoma County 2018

Conscious Gift-Giving
By Vesta Copestakes
We’re standing in a store and my 4-year old granddaughter asks if she can
have a toy. It sets off a series of answers in my head that have nothing to do with satisfying her desire and everything to do with what will become of this object when she no longer finds it interesting?
Landfill
I’m in the grocery store and another grandmother is there with her grandson who is trying to ply her into buying him a toy. She has the same dilemma running through her mind that I do. I have this child who will inherit the earth I leave behind. I can’t, in good conscience, purchase that plastic toy that will live forever for a child who will only live 10 decades...max.
How do you explain that to a seven-year old?
Honey - this plastic toy will live longer than you will.
That means nothing to someone who is in the NOW.
But we’re TWO grandmothers and we both agree so the dilemma presents itself as the power of more than one adult to influence a child. Every reason he comes up with for having that toy has an answer from one of us.
It’s a gun, honey.
Even though it’s a plastic toy gun the whole point of it is to kill. We really don’t want you to think that killing is OK. He tilts his head at us.
This gun can’t kill anyone!
We know - it’s the principle of the thing. Guns = violence = death = pain beyond understanding. How can a child know the pain of losing somone you love to gun violence?
It costs too much money.
But you have money in your purse. I can see it.
But money = time and time is finite and I’m old and running out of time to make money. Sure, this kid will understand that!
Yes, I know you’re old. I can see the wrinkles in your skin. You need to use lotion.
Well, you’re right about that one!
Let’s get back to this money thing.
OK. I’m old. I worked hard all my life and everything I own costs money. In
my life I make money with my time. One hour = so many dollars. So if I spend $50 and I make $15 dollars an hour, that object costs me more than three hours of my time - which is my life.
I can make more money but I cannot make more time.
I’m running out of time. I’m getting old. I...my voice trails off. This is too deep for a kid.
Where do we go from here?
By now he’s looking at both grandmothers with a quirky little smile on his face and switches the subject to ice cream. That we can agree on. Let’s get some ice cream. What flavor do you want?
FROM PAGE TO STAGE Because Third Grade is a Life-changing Year
The research is clear: if children cannot read proficiently by the end of third grade, they are less likely to graduate from high school. Their opportunities in life will be few and their struggles will be difficult to overcome. Reading is essential for success in life in the 21st Century.
You can help create a better future for these children by supporting
Luther Burbank Center for the Arts From Page to Stage with a monthly or one time gift. A generous donor is DOUBLING every gift by matching dollar-for-dollar up to $25,000.
“When they see the story come to life, they become more curious, which leads them to another book, learning about something else,” says Ernesto Olivares, Executive Director of the California Cities Violence Prevention Network and LBC’s Honorary Board Member. “Children who succeed in school are more likely to rise out of poverty and less likely to engage in high-risk behaviors. They’re better connected to the community and more involved with their families.”
Will you help provide access to learning and opportunity for the future? Give today to From Page to Stage. Donate online at YourLBC.org/donate and select “Arts and Education Fund” from the menu. Together we are changing lives. THANK YOU.
Make sure it’s organic because your body is growing and it has to have good food that feeds your brain, your muscles and your organs. Everything you eat becomes the cells in your body. Goodness. Nothing is simple. At this point he doesn’t care as long as it’s ice cream and a flavor he wants. We can DO this!
So now it’s the holidays where gifts get piled under a tree, handed from one person to another, and we want them to be special.
Fulfilling needs...useful gifts
How about a set of tires for your teenage daughter so her new/old car is safe on the road.
How about an oil change and tune-up for your mother who is living on Social Security and tends to let her car break down instead of maintaining it. How about a meal out with a friend who has no real needs except to spend
time with you.
How about making that “someday we’ll do that together” wish a real date
with a real time and actually do it.
It’s wonderful to have gifts under a tree to unwrap - yes, recycled paper that
can be recycled...after all, everything we do counts. Wrap it around a book, a journal, a set of playing cards, a puzzle, a card with money inside and an invitation to spend it togeher.
How about a ride out to the coast for calamari or clam chowder. How about a hug, a smile...they are priceless. Hug an old person.
So many ways to give consciously. Happy Holidays!
SS 12/18 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 13