Finding ways to give back and involve my children in the process has been an interesting challenge for us. Over the past several years, we’ve chosen opportunities as certain events have come about to involve Jack and Zoe in; after Hurricane Sandy hit New York City and the surrounding areas, we mobilized to collect food, blankets, diapers and other goods for those affected and displaced by the flood waters. My big kids helped to sort donations as they came into our apartment and were actively involved in the organization process of supplies that we put together to bring to churches and hard-hit areas in Long Island and New Jersey. They came with me to distribute groceries while we watched as companies came together and celebrated their completely rebuilt libraries in schools that were demolished in the hurricane. We are incredibly lucky to have the abundance of health and circumstance of clean water, bountiful food and a roof over our heads, and it’s my job to guide them to understand that there are those with far less than we have all over the world. It’s not something that can be taught, rather understood through actual physical and emotional involvement.
Our health is our greatest asset and one that I am cognizant of and grateful for each and every day. That notion is something that I admittedly took for granted much of my life, but as I grow older and watch my children through the years, I am struck by how fortunate we have been to have really-relatively-good health. Illnesses and ailments are not as tangible and visible to children, so when we were invited to participate in the National PLAEdate with Make-a-Wish Foundation with our entire family, I absolutely jumped at the chance. Not only would we be able to embark on that conversation with our children, but we’d be actively helping and donating to the cause by walking in the 5k held at Google Headquarters and sponsored by one of our favorite brands, PLAE shoes. It’s not the first time they’ve partnered; Make-a-Wish and PLAE teamed up in November 2013 during the BatKid phenomenon (PLAE donated those Batkicks he wore that day to save Gotham) for a giveback campaign. Aside from the incredibly well organized games and activities set up on the premises, the conversation we had with Jack, Zoe and Beau around walking to raise money to grant special wishes for very sick children was a concept that I couldn’t have conveyed to them properly without immersing them in the charity itself. We talked about the signs we saw being held by participants and the stars with photos of children’s faces around the necks of so many participants, and how it was so important for us to be involved in doing things for others in need especially when we are healthy, happy and secure.
The event itself was an incredibly fun and uplifting experience. There were activities that each of my children participated in and had a blast, from hockey to Legos, to painting and bubble blowing, the creativity and fun programming made for a really wonderful day. The kids have been wearing their PLAE shoes for a few weeks now, and I’ve been especially appreciative of the soft, wearable and flexible soles and easy velcro straps. Zoe personally customized hers, while Beau is overly thrilled about being able to put them on and take the off himself, and Jack loves that he can play basketball during recess and they look cool and feel supportive and comfortable. As a parent, finding a brand that is not only dedicated to maintaining an innovative style with quality materials and functionality that works for all three children from age 3 to 8 is quite a feat. Coupled with PLAE’s mission to support the Bay Area Make-a-Wish foundation pretty much makes this a brand that I am fully dedicated to and more than happy to support.
Honing in on what really matters and being grateful for our blessings in the grand scheme of things is the underlying heartbeat of my parenting philosophy. I’m learning how to have conversations that resonate with my children at each of their ages and vastly different personalities, but actually getting out and participating in events and actives that support that philosophy has become a priority of mine more and more lately. I’m honored to have been given the opportunity to partner with PLAE to raise awareness for the Bay Area Make-a-Wish foundation, but also to support a brand that makes so much sense to my children and my family, one that makes things fun and easy, in that order.
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