With the holidays upon us, Sophie’s preschool at our local church has been doing a canned food drive. For the past few weeks parents have received letters informing us that the students are learning about sharing with others during the Thanksgiving and Christmas season. A large garbage can was placed in the hallway to serve as The Spirit of Giving “Blessing Box”.

Last night after Sophie assisted me in making homemade brownies for her part of today’s Thanksgiving Feast, I suggested that we pick a canned good for the food drive. “There are lots of families that don’t have money for food and it’s important to share especially since Thanksgiving is next week,” I explained. She was in. To further encourage sacrifice I suggested she bring her can of SpaghettiOs. I realize that my choice was hardly among the traditional Thanksgiving favorites not to mention that they stink horribly, but they are an absolute favorite of Sophie’s and one that I rarely buy because, did I mention they stink? So I suggested the can of SpaghettiOs that Cammie bought her because, as I said, I rarely buy them (poor, poor Sophie) and clearly Cammie feels that Sophie is deprived because she loves them and I don’t buy them because, did I mention, they stink?! Much to my surprise, Sophie quickly agreed with my choice. I was so proud! She even shared the news with her dad once he arrived home from work.

This morning in the carpool line Sophie insisted she could carry her tray of brownies in. I knew she was proud of them since she assisted in making them for all of four seconds. I reminded her to tell her teacher that she had a canned good to contribute to the food drive.  She nodded and off she went.

Because I have an awful sinus cold, Cammie offered to pick Sophie up from school. When they arrived home, I asked Sophie how her Thanksgiving Feast was. “Good,” was all I got. I asked her what they had and, “I can’t remember,” was all I got. Great. She can’t remember what she ate moments ago. I just had to keep prodding and then suddenly a light bulb went off.

“They would not cook our SpaghettiOs,” she said with a look of disgust on her face. “They just threw them in the trash!”

To think, I was so proud of her sacrifice.

In between laughs I tried explaining that those SpaghettiOs were not for her Thanksgiving Feast but for the food drive to help families that did not have much money for food during the holidays. “They put them in the “Blessing Box”,” I tried to explain.

“NO they didn’t! They put them in the trash!”

Attempt one of teaching Sophie to sharing during the holidays=FAIL. So much for the spirit of giving.

Next time I’ll be more specific with her. And maybe I won’t suggest SpaghettiOs. I wouldn’t blame them if they really had thrown them in the trash. Did I mention they stink?