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The Biggest Prize on Horse Show Day

A Not So Little Parenting Win

The big story was not that I won ribbons at the horse show. I usually do. The big win of the day was seeing my son being quietly charitable.

I have always modeled giving behavior for my kids. It’s a very important value to me I have hoped to instill in them. I would always bring them along to deliver meals to families in town who were dealing with difficulties through a school program set up to help families going through challenging circumstances. I was generally physically unable to carry food safely to someone’s door because of my disability. The perfect solution was to bring my kids and have them do it.

It’s hard to know how much our messages get through to our kids. Today was one of the days I was able to tell my years of trying to instill a giving nature to my son were a success.

I asked friends and family for donations to benefit my riding facility a week before the horse show. I suggested a small amount to my sons because I thought they weren’t keen on giving away their money. They each agreed to donate $10.

The horse show was today. I needed to get the money before we went to the show. It was when I asked my younger son how he was going to pay me I got a little push back. He started to suggest he would donate his…