Have you heard of Giving Tuesday? It’s today! I just learned of it a couple of weeks ago. It’s a movement to create a day of giving – the Tuesday after (American) Thanksgiving – serving as a counterpart to the retail extravaganzas of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. The hope is for communities to come together and give something back, and then to share their efforts and spread the word.
I felt like a convert upon first hearing. The day provides for me a focal point for doing what I want to do, but sometimes don’t do as much of as I’d like. I was especially enamoured by the 10 year old boy in the video who is asking his friends for a toonie donation to a cause, which he’ll then match.
My foray into lots of ideas comes through books, and I borrowed Beatrice’s Goat by Page McBrier and One Hen by Katie Smith Milway with thoughts of talking about Giving Tuesday with my boys. Both of these books depict rural lives that are changed fundamentally and positively by small loans that purchase livestock for a family. They are lovely books, but somehow missed the mark, and trying to have a conversation about giving with my sons in this particular way felt forced. And like most important conversations, this one needs to feel right, so I let it go. I’ll find another, better way in.
But for now, for today, there’s still me, and Giving Tuesday led me to my first contribution to Kiva. I’m inspired by micro-finance, and just found the excuse to act on it.
There are so many ways to give, and I hope you’ll join in on Giving Tuesday however works for you!
4 Mothers 
Have you read the book Have You Filled A Bucket Today? I read this with the boys and it was a gateway for us and I use it often as a reference point.
Oh, I have been meaning to! It’s at their school… I’ll put it on my list – thanks.
Reblogged this on OoberKidsRepublic.
We gave away four big bags of under-used or out-grown games and puzzles. It felt so great not only to purge the over-stuffed games cupboard but to know that the games would get a new lease on life in the classrooms to which they made their way. And “you fill my bucket” has become a regular expression in this house. I love it.