Henry wants to do the right thing.

Yesterday I asked Henry to go into a store and get something for me while I waited outside with the dog. He performed this task so admirably—I could see him through the store window, saying please and thank you in all the right places, while the guys behind the counter grinned down at him—that when he returned and handed me my change, I said, "You keep it." It was a dollar. He was shocked. A dollar? He could buy out the toy store with this wealth! Buy all the Hershey bars in the universe!

We walked half a block, debating the merits of spending vs. saving. We were waiting outside the grocery store for Scott, and as we stood there, Henry said hello to a homeless man asking for change. Then he handed him the dollar. They exchanged a high-five. Henry walked back to me and said, "That was totally worth it—he was such a nice guy." I waited for him to ask for another dollar, but he never mentioned it again.

Scott came out of the store and we made our way home. Along the way, we talked about homelessness and poverty and inequality and what Henry could do to change things. He's got some big ideas, people. Wait until you hear.

Comments

[Asianmommy]

How sweet!

[HouseofJules]

Awww, Alice! Henry is awesome... loved this.

[Green]

That was a beautiful story. Thank you.

[Be Like the Squirrel, Girl]

Wow. Go Henry!

[bea]

I don't even know Henry, and I'm so proud.

[Holly]

I am a constant worrier. And 6 has been very worrisome. We too have the wanting everything and the sulking and I think- is this how he's turning out? At the end of a bad day (there were a lot last month) I kept thinking, what am I doing wrong?

As of this month he is officially 6 1/2. This week I have been seeing glimmers of the kid I remember. I think Henry is a few months older than mine (7 in January) and this post gives me much hope. Thank you! What a kind and generous boy your Henry truly is.

[Barb]

Bravo, Henry!

[momtrolfreak]

That's so, sooo great. That's when you KNOW you've done something right. Yay Henry! Future World Changer. Can FrogBoy be your V.P.? His piggy bank has three sections and when he gets money (not an allowance yet, but random stuff or birthday money), he always puts at least as much money in the "make people happy (charity)" section as he does in the spend and save sections.

[Catizhere]

Yeah, 6 is pretty much "it's all about me" as I am discovering with my freshly-turned 6 year old daughter.

Henry ROCKS!! What a good heart he has.I will say that even though Maggie is quite the little Diva, she was thoroughly outraged and appalled while watching the news last night. Apparently a swim club denied a camp group admittance into their precious white-bread hoity-toity private club. She didn't understand why they wouldn't let those little kids swim. "They're just little kids Mom, kids like to swim. Were the white people afraid that they were going to splash them or something? That's a shame those poor little kids have no place to swim. Let's call them & see if they want to come over & play in my sprinkler." Made my heart swell, I tell ya.

[Amy]

This story sounded familiar to me, and then I realized it was similar to one in a book I read to my son, Sam and the Lucky Money: http://tinyurl.com/m7on5w

[sara]

What a day brightener to read this! Thank you!

Sara

PS I totally get the "kid is in a funk is this the beginning of the end of the enjoyable kid and the beginning of the kid no one likes" feeling...

[tootie]

You should be very proud. This totally made my day.

[Jill]

And I'm crying. I love Henry stories... he's such an amazing little man!

[Patti]

Farghing terrific.

[Carrie]

That is so sweet and wonderful. You are definitely doing something right to have raised such a kind and compassionate son. Thanks for the post.

[Bethany Zabrosky]

This gives me all kinds of hope.

[Marcy]

Lump in the throat.

[Donalyn]

Blossoming is the best thing about parenting!

[Lisame]

GIRL! I feel ya with this post! Cameron WAS six. I didn't think he was gonna live through it as I was planning his horrible demise all week at work. He was a jerk! TOTAL JERK! Then, it was over and seven was a much cooler kid. Eight though, EIGHT IS GREAT!

Hang in there.

[kate]

Awww. Just when I thought I could not adore Henry any more.

It almost makes 6 worth it.

You're a good mama.

[jennifer]

I heart Henry! The universe notices that kind of stuff.

[PB Rippey/sleepless mama]

What a wonderful post--a story so well told. Great to come to Finslippy and check in on the worries.

[Jasie VanGesen]

You've given me hope. My son shows glimpses of becoming a nice person, but I'm still waiting for the tide to change completely... and all the while worrying that I'm the worst mother on earth.

Thank you for giving a worried mom hope. :P

[Allison]

I don't know if I've ever commented before, but this post brought me out. I have a son who is about 6 months younger than yours.

Grouchy, scowly, eye-rolly. NEVER satisfied. ALWAYS with the "Why My Life Would Be Better If I Had The X Lego Set."

I don't condone it, I don't support it, and I don't reward it. Yet the behavior continues.

Let's just say: You have given me hope today.

[Kelly]

Wow. Just wow. To give up something that was so valuable to him without a second thought is truly admirable. You must know you're doing something right. (I'm sure you're doing a lot of things right.)