Thank goodness our very first Meals on Wheels outing went so smoothly. While today’s deliveries were still rewarding and certainly worth the effort, this was a much more harrowing experience.

We narrowly averted a dreaded tantrum on some hungry stranger’s doorstep. As a result, I learned that the nature of the route makes all the difference

I now know that next time I will ask our local MOW coordinator to reserve an apartment-centric route, like the one we had last time. Multiple deliveries in a single building cut down on the car seat dance, give preschoolers the excitement of hunting for numbers, and offer more time in a climate controlled environment.

Between the heat and the impending nap time crash, both girls got a little whinier with every stop. I engaged my best upbeat parenting distractions:  including piggy back rides to the car, knock knock jokes and silly songs between stops.

By the last few deliveries, I offered to let the kids stay in the car.

They refused. It is a real testament to the power of the Meals on Wheels experience that both Little Miss Two and Miss Kindergarten turned down the air conditioning and their trail mix.

Instead they repeatedly chose to march up to a stranger’s door with a carton of milk, a dessert, a hot meal, and, this time, a brightly colored picture.

Everyone on the other side of the door was happy to see the kids and willing to ooh and ahh over the crayon-laden gift. Even the last door, when the gentleman was greeted with the very beginnings of what could have been an epic fit.

Little Miss Two had had enough. Her sister had rung the doorbell before she could, and that was the very last straw. She scrunched up her little lips and began the first tormented tones of a wail that inspired her sister to plug  her ears in defense.

When the kind man opened the door, however, and smiled at them, all was quiet.

Earlier in the day, I heard both girls describing Meals on Wheels to their neighbor friends. They focused on the “Grandmas and Grandpas” they get to help. So in spite of this somewhat frazzled visit, we’ve officially signed on for the long haul. Meals on Wheels has already taught us something about kindness.

Along with something about perseverance.

Tags: Improving Lives, Meals on Wheels, Parenting Challenges

About Sarah

Sarah Aadland is striving to make family volunteering a meaningful habit for her family of five. Join the conversation as she ponders what they may (or may not have) learned and looks for helpful information about raising compassionate kids.Though she plans to one day put her Masters in Public Policy back to work for social justice, she sees family volunteering as a way to build a stronger community, a better world, and a more connected family. In addition to her children, Sarah tends a large garden, a small flock of chickens, and a habit of mindfulness amid the necessary rituals of parenting.

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