Beginning to Help: Mother's Day Clean-Up

Inspired by my grad-school friend Sheila, her boys, and their Pennies of Time, I am determined to kick-start some service with Finn and (sometimes) Wylie this summer.

For years I've said I wanted to volunteer, to help my community, to do something good, something bigger than me.  And, I always found a reason not to.  Now, with the boys, seems like the perfect time to do good, to serve, to help.  So, this summer we are going to spend some time helping others.  What's a realistic goal?  I'm aiming for once a week, maybe more. 

On Mother's Day, we were heading out for a hike (sure, a tromp through the woods and a meadow at a nearby Forest Preserve counts as a hike) and I grabbed a couple of plastic bags.  I figured we might see some garbage, especially along the Des Plaines River after the recent flood, and hoped we could do a tiny bit of good.  What better place to start than helping the Earth. 

This turned out to be the perfect intro. to service for Finn.  Tromping through mud to pick up trash.  Yes!  And so we've begun.  Maybe I'm crazy but I already feel like we're more aware of other people's needs.  Nothing huge, but the beginning of a summer of service.  We will definitely go back to river to pick up more garbage, and hope to bring some friends next time!

Starting to notice trash along the river.

Wishing we'd brought more bags (and that Finn hadn't lost his).

Resting after our stroll through the woods.

Happy Mother's Day to me.