helpful neighbors, a breath of fresh air!
By daeckardt
@daeckardt (6237)
United States
June 24, 2011 8:26pm CST
I'm not sure where I should be putting this so I think this interest area will do. I went shopping today and had many bags of groceries when I got home. One of the bags (full of canned foods) broke as soon as I entered the building, but I continued to my room with the rest of the bags. I opened my door and put the rest of the bags in my room and when I came back out to pick up the cans, a little black boy (I'm not racist) came out of a room two doors down and asked if I needed help. I thought that was so thoughtful since he wasn't more than maybe 5 or 6. He picked up as many as he could carry and I picked up the rest. He said he couldn't walk because one of the cans was on his feet so I picked that one up. His dad came along and took some from his son and they got me back to my room with all my cans of food. I thought it was really unusual for kids that young to already care, or maybe he hadn't gotten to the point where he didn't care any more. Have you had a young child do something nice that seemed totally unexpected? That sure made my day!!!
3 people like this
10 responses
@fabsprecious (1565)
• United States
27 Jun 11
You are right, it is very unusual to meet your children and/or teens with good and helpful intensions. That was actually really nice of him to help you, he's parents are doing an awesome job of raising him with excellent manners. No, to be honest with you I haven't had that experience in a while, other than my children. I wish there were out there though...
It would be nice...
2 people like this
@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
28 Jun 11
I think most of the time, it is natural to act that way for five or six years, but then when you get into school, peer pressure kicks in and it is almost like pulling teeth to get kids involved in any kind of helping activity unless they were in some kind of scouting activity or similar club from an early age. That is still no guarantee, but I'm sure it gives them more incentive to continue such activities.
@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
1 Jul 11
Fortunately, peer pressure usually doesn't kick in until close to the teenage years and hopefully by then he will be on the right path and be able to not be affected by it.
@fabsprecious (1565)
• United States
30 Jun 11
I am pretty sure that such activities like the ones you mention does give them more incentives to continue having manners and helping others. I also believe that if they are raised appropriately, they will also continue in the generous path. Since as long as I could remember I have always been like that, and I am trying to teach my children to be the same way. But again like you mentioned peer pressure from school and friends could play a vital role as well.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (222989)
• Chile
27 Jun 11
Three days ago, after I did some errands with my eldest daugter, I was feeling absolutly down. I did not want to get out of her car for a cup of coffee and my daughter had to go to her home befre bringing me back.
I said I would stay at the car as it was to be a couple of minutes. My 2 eldest grandsons came to say hi and went away. But the smallest one, Diego, came for a visit. He asked how I was feeling, told me about his schol, promised a visit... 
Needless to say, I felt a lot better after that. In fact, I felt so well that the friends who com to visit me on Tuesdays said they were taking me out for diner and I accepted
Needless to say, I felt a lot better after that. In fact, I felt so well that the friends who com to visit me on Tuesdays said they were taking me out for diner and I accepted@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
28 Jun 11
It sounds like Diego is a lot more caring than the eldest 2 grandsons if he was the only one to actually visit and ask how you were feeling and tell you about things. I be the older ones just wanted to go see their friends. It is nice when kids do nice things that make you feel better when you are down! I'm glad you got to do your Tuesday dinner too!
@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
1 Jul 11
I really do think that kids have a harder time dealing with these things that most adults do only they don't really know how to communicate about it as well. They are probably more likely to shy away than to try to understand. If they already understand then maybe they will talk more about it. I hope they are able to help you through this time. Have a great weekend!!!
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
2 Jul 11
This is nice of him to offer to help like this. It is so True that so many once they get older do not want to help and sometimes try to hinder even more. I know I would have been very Thankful and told him thanks and be glad that there are people out there in this world who are willing to help. Hopefully this young boy can continue to stay this caring and helpful as well.
1 person likes this
@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
2 Jul 11
We can only hope! I know the boy came up to me yesterday when I was out in the hall and asked if I could get him more towels. I told him the cleaning lady was doing laundry and there weren't any right now but that someone went into the laundry room he should ask them. He seemed more like a sourpuss then than the other day. Oh well...
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
25 Jun 11
thats wonderful. i sometimes think the blacks raise their kids a lot more courtious then some of us. also, many children will copy what their parents do. so probably he was copying his dad. a very good reason to watch what we do in front of kids. havent been out enough lately to experience that. 
they sound like special people@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
26 Jun 11
I think you might be right about that. Sometimes black people of all ages are more courteous that white people and I think it is because they know about the negative stereotypes about their race. It always impresses me when I am treated well by anyone, but especially when it is a child since they haven't necessarily learned to be bad people yet and hopefully will never learn the bad habits that many adults have by the time they mature. I think that is probably more of a problem in areas where parents are not around to provide guidance and they don't have the kids in any kind of care program (latchkey kids).
@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
25 Jun 11
Thanks for the comment. Fortunately most of the people who live in the motel on a full time basis are kind-hearted and helpful. I haven't run into any people who haven't been nice.
@jojo732 (294)
•
25 Jun 11
Hi
The father is teaching his son the importance of helping others ,he is a very lucky boy to have a father like this.I work with primary age children,and they are always doing helpful things,yesterday two of the children helped wash up all the paint pots,another child showed one of his classmates how to tie their shoe laces,small things I know but it is so good to see these young ones being so helpful to others. I am happy to here about how helpful this boy and his father were to you.
jojo732
1 person likes this
@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
25 Jun 11
I guess it seems strange to me mostly because I have heard the stereotypes about black people when I was younger and living in a white neighborhood and for some reason those things stick in mind even though I have seen different most of my life. I guess being a smaller community helps. I don't know how often that kind of thing happens in the inner city where parents don't have as much time at home with kids because of multiple jobs. Or is that just another stereotype?
@GardenGerty (160663)
• United States
25 Jun 11
Long ago school was out due to snow. I am able to do my own shoveling, but two little kids came along that I had baby sat at one time, usually pretty rowdy. I am not sure where my kids were, but these two wanted to shovel my snow, but had no shovels. They did not want money. My neighbor had just lost his wife to cancer, so out came my shovels and the kiddos shoveled his sidewalk. I explained to them that he was very sad right now, and he was at work. I treated them to hot cocoa afterwards. I am thinking their mom had put them in private school and it was closed but the schools in town were open.
1 person likes this
@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
25 Jun 11
I like the fact that they were willing to help and didn't expect anything in return. They must have had good parents who taught them good values. Thanks for sharing this!
@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
25 Jun 11
There are so many times when young people will do good things. I just hope that he continues to be like that and doesn't let his peers talk him into changing later in order to be part of the "in" crowd by being bad.
@kennzsniper (170)
• Philippines
25 Jun 11
The kid is good hearted.
I salute the father for grooming his kid to be a good man someday.
1 person likes this
@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
25 Jun 11
I agree. I just hope this wasn't just a one-time gesture that he will grow out of in the next few years. It seems like sometimes young kids are really good and then they find out from their peers that that isn't "normal" or something and they stop doing good things.
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
25 Jun 11
You are lucky to have good and helpful neighbors.
I specially liked the boy, because at a young age, he now knows how to be helpful. Kudos to his father or parents who must have guided him well as he grows.
This world will be so much better if all people are like that.
1 person likes this
@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
25 Jun 11
I totally agree with you on that! It seems like everyone here is willing to help me. Sam at the front desk drove me to my appointment last Wednesday because my car wouldn't start and he has done that once before. He also told a guy that my car needed work and the guy was going to replace my starter but when they tested the starter at the auto parts store it worked fine so we just bought the parts for a switch and the total cost (including labor) was about half what a new starter would have cost! I'm sure that if this kid has learned at his young age that it is good to help people, when he gets older he would be willing to help people in any way that he can.
