The memory is embedded in my mind. It was about this time of year. We had just moved to the Twin Cities—for the second time. I sat one evening at our kitchen table with community education and park and recreation catalogues opened to dog-eared pages and registration forms stacked and divided per child.
I considered. I planned. I registered. And I submitted payments. A lot of them. I sat back and thought, “What am I doing?” Why was I shelling out so much money to keep three little boys entertained and occupied for the summer at camps for this and programs for that? Those kids were being given a lot of opportunities, but what were they giving? Was I missing an even more important opportunity for them during summer break?
Along with the camps and programs, which were amazing (Hands down, I’d sign them up all over again!), I found ways for the kids to volunteer that summer and many summers and school years after that. Calling bingo at a senior center, organizing a church library, running movies at a senior living facility and serving weekends at a respite program were just some of the service areas…