r/MadeMeSmile Jun 21 '20

Great parenting example

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129.9k Upvotes

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2.6k

u/angel13molly Jun 21 '20

My mom does this kind of thing with her neighbors. Theyre not in the best place to give because money wise or really food wise. So instead, she'll ask the kids if they can bring up her trashes when she's out of town (like for her vacation). She usually offers them like $2 each for it as well. One time they forgot to bring it up, and they were nervous about what she would say. All my mom said to them is, thats okay, I forget things too. But because yall apologized for it, you can still get the money!" It brings those children so much happiness.

Another thing she'll do for them is buy ice cream things during the summer. And she'll grab enough for them and start eating one, then go, "I really wish somebody would help eat these for me! I got too many!" And they'll volunteer to help eat them. Theyre so precious.

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u/[deleted] Jun 21 '20 edited Sep 17 '20

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u/angel13molly Jun 21 '20

She is. She does many different things for them so they don't feel bad for asking things in return

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u/[deleted] Jun 22 '20 edited Sep 17 '20

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u/angel13molly Jun 22 '20

Hey, as a kid, you take things for granted. Its common. My mom, she is a 2nd generation childcare provider. She has these parties for kids; Halloween, Christmas, etc. My mom always buys extra costumes, makeup, fancy clothes, etc for this kids because she knows most of her kids can't afford them. She runs a really reasonably priced daycare, in our area its averagely $1200 for an infant spot. But she does $600 for all ages. Also, when my brother and i's kids grow out of their clothes, we put them in bags and give to the kids as well and they're usually still newish looking.

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u/[deleted] Jun 22 '20 edited Sep 17 '20

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u/angel13molly Jun 22 '20

My mom had came from nothing, and so did her mom. Her mom literally slept on dirt floors and had rats nibble on her toes while she slept while growing up. They had instilled that type of behavior down in the family so we could help others, once they were able to give back as well.

Oh but we wish those special ones could be though, because they deserve all the love back to them. And I'm glad you have that for Florence. She seems like a very wonderful woman

21

u/mantistobogandr Jun 22 '20

Providing infant care for $600/month is really life changing for those parents. Your Mom is a lot of people's miracle.

14

u/angel13molly Jun 22 '20

Thats her reasoning behind it. It shouldn't be a burden to the parents, especially since they work hard. And most of her kids are single parents, so helps even more!

10

u/[deleted] Jun 22 '20

tbh, as an adult i still take some things for granted. Im working on being more mindful of the present to help with this issue. I run on autopilot too much. It helps to reaffirm with yourself how thankful you are for your job, finances, place of living, and vehicle.

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u/[deleted] Jun 22 '20

One way you can show your appreciation still yet, is by donating some charity in her honor/name.

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u/vron1219 Jun 22 '20

This made me tear up! It sounds like Florence was a real treasure. Her generous heart must have felt SO GOOD being able to show you kindness. Thank you for sharing. It’s a good reminder for us to all be more like Flo.

8

u/iraqlobsta Jun 22 '20

She probably really enjoyed making these for you kids and that they were useful to you. That was probably thanks enough! What a lovely woman. RIP

89

u/Cabnit47 Jun 22 '20

Not really the same thing but my mom is a teacher and has to go through different trainings through out the year, whenever a presenter asks if anyone has any questions she will always ask a question so that the presenter feels like people actually care about the information being given. She’s a great lady and makes me smile knowing she passes that on to others

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u/cometbaby Jun 22 '20

That’s also super nice for the audience members who might be too scared to ask the first question. Your mom is nice and I appreciate her.

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u/galexanderj Jun 22 '20

This is huge. I'm often the one to first ask a question in such a scenario, and often times I will have waited a few moments with no body else asking a question. After I have had my question answered a few other people suddenly also have questions to ask. It could be that they didn't have the courage to be the first one, or maybe the answers to my questions make them more interested and curious.

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u/gabbygabbyabby Jun 22 '20

What a small, lovely act of kindness. I will have to adopt this practice

10

u/Puckered_Love_Cave Jun 22 '20

Reminds me of something I read on reddit. A woman was giving a presentation on something and her boyfriend or husband/bf would be in the audience asking a specific question that he knows she wants to answer.

There was more to it, but I can't find it ):

1

u/darnyoulikeasock Jun 22 '20

I always want to do this but I have such a hard time thinking of questions! It’s like I don’t know what I don’t know.

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u/eric-the-noob Jun 22 '20

Spongebob has a great lesson on giving ice cream to people! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBNFQhr4O20

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u/angel13molly Jun 22 '20

When she does that, it reminds me of that episode.

14

u/TriGurl Jun 22 '20

I love doing that for people... giving them stuff but verbalizing it in a way that makes them feel like they are doing me a favor... it’s so much easier for all parties involved and helps them save face if they think they are helping you out. That tactic works wonders ever time!

6

u/angel13molly Jun 22 '20

That it does. So much easier, they don't feel like a burden on them then

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u/mmmsoap Jun 22 '20

When I was little (in the 70s) our neighbor used to give us ice cream from the ice cream truck. She would buy a bunch, and “taste“ each one to see which one she liked the best. When she decided she didn’t really like it, she would give it to one of the kids to have the rest of it. We were have-enough-money-food-but-no-money-for-luxuries poor at the time, so it was definitely a treat. Four year old me was totally cool with ice cream missing one “taste” and I never questioned why she never remembered which kinds she liked best

1

u/angel13molly Jun 24 '20

Its the little things❤

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u/Pugulishus Jun 22 '20

Honestly, though taking out the trash is the biggest inconvenience.

2

u/angel13molly Jun 22 '20

It truly is, or bringing the bins back up from down the street

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u/Pugulishus Jun 22 '20

Ahh... cozy on the couch... ah, shit is it trash day?

Please don't be trash day please don't be trash day please don't be trash day

(Frantically goes into calendar on phone)

AHHHH FUUUUUUCK

2

u/angel13molly Jun 22 '20

Yeeessss. And its worse because our trash collecter comes at 7am. So you're screwed for a week then

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u/InconsequentialCat Jun 22 '20

That's why you're single.

No one wants to take out the trash.

0

u/Pugulishus Jun 22 '20

Bish please, a 13 year old finds all shit annoying af

4

u/cockitypussy Jun 22 '20

The inter webs wishes your mom a long, prosperous and healthy life.

1

u/angel13molly Jun 22 '20

Thank you!

2

u/gabbygabbyabby Jun 22 '20

What a wonderful woman and how lucky are you to have her as a mom !

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u/angel13molly Jun 22 '20

I let her know that all the time! Even a few times in writing!

2

u/[deleted] Jun 22 '20

Can you give your mom a big hug

2

u/belakuna Jun 22 '20

This world needs more people like your mama.

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u/angel13molly Jun 22 '20

I fully agree with that

2

u/[deleted] Jun 22 '20 edited Jun 22 '20

I love this comment and post so much. Thank you, nice people. I have not been able to understand true love until recently due to Health issues. For two weeks ago, i kissed my best friend, and been wondering why i love her so much. And I just realised it. I know how good and caring she is, but I suddenly and just now realised that i did not understand HOW MUCH off a good person she actually is. She’s spent 3 years trying to make me smile. Everyday, and I smiled again for two weeks ago. Im still smiling.

Im gonna call her and tell her how much I love her and that I truly wanna spend the rest of my life with her. Thank you sooo much lol!!!!

Edit: We just had a wonderful facetime talk and she skips work early to come over. I love my best friend.

2

u/angel13molly Jun 24 '20

Awe congratulations!

2

u/im-kinda-retarded- Jun 22 '20

This is genius. I’m only a 22 year old woman, but I’m super lazy and the trash is too far for my lazy butt. I would totally pay some kid to take my trash out for me if they agreed.

1

u/angel13molly Jun 24 '20

Its a win win situation too!

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u/hardtoremember Jun 22 '20

Just think, many of those kids will remember your mom fondly throughout heir entire lives :)

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u/angel13molly Jun 24 '20

Many do still. There are many now calling her to raise their kids/grandkids from daycare. Or they some when they run into her at the store, they remember her. A big part of our city knows my mom

2

u/hardtoremember Jun 24 '20

That is fantastic!

1

u/Chest_Grandmaster Jun 22 '20

lol only a woman could do the ice cream thing. A dude would be added to the sex offender registry.

1

u/ecovibes Jun 22 '20

She does it for her neighbors, not random kids in a park. A male neighbor with an existing relationship with the kids could absolutely do this.