"Hash Brown" ('Tis the Season for Giving)

With the Holidays approaching we have started teaching Jack about the idea of Charity. He has been helping me get some things together to take to the Salvation Army and we give him coins to give to the bell ringers at Kroger.

Jack: Mommy, why are we giving them piggy banks?

K: Some Mommies and Daddies don't have money to buy their little boys and girls coats and mittens for the winter. We give money so they can stay warm and buy food.

J: (Very concerned) We have monies, right?

K: Yes.

J: Good, I need a coat and mittens.

Every year at Kate's hospital, they set up a "store" for select families that cannot afford Christmas gifts. (Okay, we don't know for sure how the store concept works.) Hospital employees either donate money for clothing and toys to be purchased or they can purchase items for a specific-aged child. Kate thought it would be good for Jack to pick something out, so she signed up for us to buy a toy for a three-year old boy. Over breakfast, we explained to him that after our shopping was done, we were going to buy a present for this little boy.

K: Would you like to help pick out a toy for a little boy who is three?

J: Who is he?

K: A little boy in Detroit whose Mommy and Daddy do not have enough money for Christmas presents.

Me: (Pleasedon'taskaboutSantapleasedon'taskaboutSantapleasedon'taskaboutSanta)

J: Just like the kids with no mittens?

K: Yes.

J: (Even more concerned than with the bells ringers...)You have money for presents, right?!?

Me: Yes.

J: Okay, let's buy him a toy...What's his name?

K: We don't know his name, it's just a boy your age.

J: But he has to have a name!

Me: I'm sure he does, but we don't know what it is.

J: (Looking at his breakfast) I think his name is Hash Brown.

Me: I'm pretty sure his name is not Hash Brown.

J: Yes it is. Let's go to Target so we can buy a toy for little boy Hash Brown.

That afternoon, after leaving the mall and on our way to Target:

Jack: Are we going home, now?

K: No, we have to go to Target to buy a toy.

Jack: Oh! We have to buy a toy for Hash Brown!