The Poppi Chronicles

I’ve decided to chime in with my own words. Poppi cannot cover every topic he wanted to. I’m a lousy substitute.

—

Tomorrow you will be exactly four and a half. As I type this, you are furiously running through the house looking through your toys and making a pile of seemingly random unrelated items at the top of the stairs. I’m not joking- there’s a Batman action figure sitting between some plastic play food and a couple of matchbox cars.

I’m proud of how we got to this moment, though, and I need the future you to know how the 4-year-old you got here. Here’s the play by play:

[You and I, riding home from dinner with Mom and Grandma on a rainy night- they rode home separately]

You: Dad, did you know that some people don’t have food in their fridge?
Me: Yes, I do. Some people don’t even have a fridge! Or even a house! Isn’t that terrible?
You: Really? What do they do?
Me: Life is very hard for them. On a rainy night like tonight, they have to find a warm place to sleep. It doesn’t sound very fun, does it?
You: Oh no. Maybe we should give them some of our food and invite them over to our house.
Me: Well, that sounds like a good idea, but we probably don’t have enough room to fit everyone who doesn’t have a house. And I’m not sure we have enough food for everyone who doesn’t have a fridge.
You: Maybe they can buy food and a house with their money.
Me: They probably don’t have any money or else they wouldn’t be stuck without food or a house.
You: Then I’ll give them my money. I have lots in my piggy bank.
Me: That’s a nice thought, but your money is probably only enough for things like toys. That reminds me- did you know that some of those people without houses and food also have kids?
You: They do?
Me: Yes, and those kids probably don’t have many toys to play with.
You: What if I shared my toys with them?
Me: Is that something you want to do?
You: Yes! Can I?
Me: If you want to, you can pick any toys you want to give away to kids who are less fortunate.
You: OK!
Me: Are you sure you’re OK with this? If you give toys away, you won’t get them back.
You: I know! I want to share with the other kids.

And that, dear son, is what set you into motion.

You had it in you at four. Don’t lose it.