Comments on: Haiti – What is Your Family Plan?

By: Anna

Anna — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:51:03 +0000

I haven’t mentioned it to my 4.5 year old. He’s already afraid of burglars breaking in at night (I don’t know where this fear came from) so I don’t want to add earthquakes or being orphaned to his list of fears. We did donate some money at the grocery store. DH and I would like to adopt but circumstances prevent that right now. Perhaps in the future.

By: fatema

fatema — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 09:11:40 +0000

PS 2 – You really should be proud of your little boy. It’s a real testament to your parenting skills.

By: fatema

fatema — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 09:09:18 +0000

Thanks for this post – I just caught sight of your blog when I ordered some labels a few weeks ago. Anyway, some great ideas on teaching kids the value of money and empathizing with those who don’t have it as easy as we do. I found another “piggy bank” that has different compartments – including one additional one that is different from the moonjars. They’re called Money-Ed-Boxes and you can check them out on http://www.kidsmoney.com.au/html/s02_article/article_view.asp?keyword=Teach-money-skills-in-4-EASY-AND-FUN-steps-BUY-a-Money-Ed-Box-TODAY

PS: For the record, I have no stake in those boxes, just liked them and thought I’d share

By: Michelle

Michelle — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 16:23:36 +0000

Just an FYI. The Canadian government is matching donations dollar for dollar. So is ING Direct. So, if you bank with ING Direct, and you make a donation through them (they will give it to the Red Cross and you’ll still get a tax receipt), you’re donating 3 times as much. So, if you donate $100, they’re really getting $300!

By: Julie Cole

Julie Cole — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 13:52:11 +0000

Love the moonjars! OK, that would be way more efficient than all the different jars and piggy banks we have going around here. Excellent tip about taking daughter physically to the bank!
Julie – thanks for sharing. loved hearing about the friendship your kids made with the child from haiti!

By: Jane - Mom Generations

Jane - Mom Generations — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 09:01:49 +0000

My goodness, Julie, what a week for you. During the difficult times, both at home and in the world, those little silver linings – like your 10-year-old wanting to be a rescue worker to help out in Haiti – that remind us there is much to be thankful for.

By: Marigay

Marigay — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 04:45:16 +0000

I’ve talked with my oldest (6 yo) about it and read an online update with her about an orphan in Haiti that Free the Children works with (we’ve very connected to this wonderful Canadian charity) – while I’m not sure how much she took in, she was very interested in hearing about the little girl from Haiti. I think putting things like this in context depending on their age, is key. She’s donating the share portion of her moonjar (a piggybank I highly recommend – http://www.moonjar.com) to the cause and we’re matching her donation. I’m also taking her to the bank to do it, not just doing this donation online with a credit card. If you’re looking for more ways to foster your family’s sense of community, I highly recommend “The World Needs Your Kid” by Craig and Marc Kielburger – as easy but essential read for parents, teachers and anyone who works with kids of any age.

By: Julie

Julie — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 02:24:38 +0000

My kids have had first hand experience with people from Haiti.
My sister in law’s family help co-ordinate a group of Haitian Dancers (boys who have been rescued off the streets and now live in a safe and stable environment in a home run by the church) to come to GTA to perform at local schools and churches to raise money and awareness for the homes in Haiti.
We spent an afternoon with the group in October listening to them sing , dance and play drums.
My kids played with the 9 yr old boy that was with the group. He only spoke french and my kids only speak engish. They had a fabulous time playing together.
The one home the boys live in was demolished – i’ve seen the pictures. Thankfully only 1 person was severely hurt.

My kids know about what is going on.
And how the earthquake has affected the people she met not too long ago.
It’s very sad, but makes you put things in perspective.

By: Julie Cole

Julie Cole — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 01:42:50 +0000

oh and Carrie – that balloon thing….SO weird. Don’t even remember when we had an orange balloon in the house. And yes, guardian angels is right. All it would have taken for me not to go immediately back to him was for one of the other kids to ask for something. I would have left him there for a few minutes while tending to them. That’s what made it hard….lying in bed thinking about all the things that could have distracted me from going back straight away. ugh.

By: Cassandra

Cassandra — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 23:48:32 +0000

Wow! As the sibling of a someone with Asperger’s Syndrome I am really impressed by your son’s comment. I can’t imagine how proud you must be.