TAG Question of the Week

We know that there are so many different ways to give. And in many cases our efforts aren’t or can’t be spontaneous our impulsive. Getting involved in a movement can involve significant organization and preparation. We don’t stroke a check without considering our finances and we don’t just decide to jump on a plane to Haiti tomorrow to help build a school. There are ways to give that require significant planning and those that do not. Both are of equal importance and it’s important that our children understand the difference and why.

So while financial giving and major, planned efforts are extremely important, there are lots of things we can do right now that do not involve considering year-end recommendations from our accountant or require extreme organizations, effort or time. More

It’s Saturday, and it’s raining. In fact, it’s been raining for the last three days straight. Or perhaps it’s too hot or too chilly – it was a warm winter, huh? But today it’s chilly! Either way, your plans for a day outside, and your kids’ cabin fever might be steadily rising. Everyone has lost interest in watching tv, but it’s still blaring, a steady background to the chorus of brother-and-sisterly bickering.

We’ve all had days like this. We all know how frustrating it is to watch your kids unravel because they’re bored. The solution? Help your kids shift the focus from themselves to others with a quick “kitchen table project.” Using these everyday moments at home to micro-volunteer is an easy way to do some good and remind your kids what really matters. More

Have you ever been part of a book club? You read the book and then get together with some others to reflect. If you haven’t been to a book club, you’ve probably been to a movie with a group and had a discussion about the storyline after viewing. Were you surprised by the different experiences other readers/viewers had? Maybe they noticed details you hadn’t or important character traits that you dismissed. Perhaps they picked-up on themes or morals that you didn’t. Maybe you didn’t get it at all, but someone explained the plot or theme in a way that made it clear. More

We talk a lot about activities and ideas for influencing philanthropic hearts and behaviors in our children. The root of Talk About Giving, however, is just that. TALKING about your efforts to help others so your children are aware and the value is passed on. Research indicates that we’re just not talking about it. In that spirit, we have an activity for you moms and dads! You get to attend a fun event, eat amazing food and taste delicious wines – all the while, supporting your community. And then you get to go home and tell your children about the fun you had while doing good for others. More

Perhaps you can relate to these statements:

• “When I was a kid, we didn’t have DVR … we didn’t even have a VCR. A Charlie Brown Christmas came on once a year and it was a momentous occasion we waited for … and didn’t miss.”
• “iPhone? We had ONE phone in our house when I was growing up. It was in the kitchen and had a cord that was three feet long.”  Some of us might even be able to refer to a rotary dial.
• “Laptop computer? My papers were typed on a typewriter. There was one girl in college that had a Brother word processor and that was cutting edge.”

Life has changed significantly in a short period of time – even just a few short years. Technology is improving at light speed and in this ‘On Demand’ world, we’re becoming more and more accustomed to getting whatever we want, when we want it. While getting what we want quickly is lovely, our children will learn at some point that the world doesn’t always work that way. In teaching them lessons in financial planning and delaying that which we desire to have or accomplish, we can truly make life easier for them and set a strong foundation for financial viability.   More