Skip to main content

An AfFARE to Remember



Hey everyone! This past Sunday my son and I worked one of the tables at the local FARE (Food Allergy Research and Education) walk in Maryland. It was a beautiful day and a great event. What struck me the most, however, was my 11 year old's metamorphosis. Most of the time, I'm telling him to "cut it out," "calm down" or "stop being so silly and focus." I know, these are typical statements used in reference to most 11 yr. old boys! Nevertheless, what I witnessed this past Sunday was eye opening. Here was a boy full of poise, maturity (always relative) showmanship, salesmanship and totally being in the moment.

For the first time in a very long time, he was able to be himself without worrying that someone was judging him as "weird" for having a food allergy. He talked to little kids and shared his experiences, and just as easily conversed with adults, impressing them with his allergy acumen and his passion. Who was this kid?

I have always firmly believed that doing good for others makes for a well rounded child, yet due to  generally letting life and all it craziness get in the way, we haven't done enough of it lately. What I witnessed this past Sunday only reinforced the idea that gratitude and good deeds truly are an essential part of our children's upbringing. Sometimes we need reminders to just smack us in the face bringing us out of our complacency.

Below is the link to the live impromptu video we did on Facebook. I love this video because it truly demonstrated our genuine feelings about the day along with our gratitude to being an important part of something greater than ourselves.


https://www.facebook.com/rachel.o.packer.7/videos/10210696648880763/

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

TREE-ting the Problem-Doing the Right Thing is Never Easy

Apparently, a purple plum tree only has a life expectancy of 20 years or so.   I never realized that some trees have life expectancies, like humans. Unlike us, I always assumed that trees would live forever.   I mean, isn’t that the point of planting a tree anyway?   So that after we are long gone, the tree is still there like a pillar of strength continuing to emit life to all those who look at it? The tree that has been loyally standing in front of our house for 22 years (we have lived here for 14 years) only slightly defied these statistics, though, the ominous crack down the middle and the straggly blooms fearfully indicated that its demise was imminent.   After all, I didn’t want it to come crashing down on the house, or, more importantly, on one of the kids playing in the driveway.   No, the practical side of me prevailed on the side of safety, the emotional side…well, that was a completely different ballgame.   In the end, I decided it was for th...
5 comments
Read more

Oh the Closets You’ll Clean and the Items You’ll Find-A Rollicking, Rhyming Post

I’m zealously cleaning, It’s out of control, The kids started camp And now I’m on a roll. In the younger one’s room, The closet came first, Five bags for donation All ready to burst. I’m purging, spelunking, and filling a basket, So much to throw out that I’m blowing a gasket. Train parts, and car wheels, there’s blink toys and bits, Stuffed in a drawer and none of it fits. Yo-yos, kazoos and buttons look rusty, Webkinz, stuffed doggies and pillow pets are dusty. I’m sneezing and coughing, my eyes are all red, And that’s just the closet, not under the bed. When I check under there, I find stray toys and notes; Pencils, pajamas, a doo dad that floats. A dirty old sock, a card game of sorts, A piece to a puzzle, a red pair of shorts. I know that his bedroom Looks that of a hoarder, It’s nothing compared to the room of my daughter! Sometimes I’ll sigh, or just shoot her a glare, Won’t tell her to clean it, no, that I don’t dare, ‘Cause, nagging and begging just isn’t the answer And some...
2 comments
Read more

There's a Toothache in My Heart

A very well known and loved Rabbi, Rabbi Sidney Greenberg, (who incidentally was one of the many Rabbis who participated in my wedding), used this phrase , there’s a toothache in my heart , when refering to a friend and colleague who had fallen from grace…enough said.   The saying struck me as so poignant and descriptive because we all know how brutal toothache’s can be, and that is exactly how it feels in our hearts when we are saddened or deeply troubled about something. At exactly 12:30 today, I have an emergency dentist appointment.   I have no idea what’s wrong but I see stars everytime I eat or drink something cold, or for that matter, room temperature.   I have to warm yogurt or fruit on the right side of my mouth before I can even think about using the left side.   It’s brutal, it hurts, and boy am I annoyed.    The pain has been consistent, persistent and at times excrutiating.   Ari asked me if it was going to fall out as he wiggled his ow...
1 comment
Read more