Mom Inspires With “Great Parenting Example” After Teaching Child That Favors Are A 2-Way Street

Jan 19, 2023

Some people say the best kind of education comes from the home, with values taught by parents serving as the perfect foundation to shape the character of a person growing up. Perhaps it can be true for some as there are people who take with them the values instilled in them in their households to their life outside, especially when interacting with their circle of friends or even random strangers. Of course, it's still up to the person to build a character of his own. While it can vary depending on one's experience, no one can deny the fact that parents are the best teachers.

One person took to Reddit on June 21, 2020 to share a valuable lesson about the right way to treat other people, with many particularly praising the mother.

The said person, whose username is username u/Bmchris44, shared an inspiring story, a "great parenting example" on a Reddit thread that aims to uplift other people.

The post narrated how a mom explained to her child why she decided to ask for some salt from their less-privileged neighbor when they had it at home.

The mom explained that she wanted to make their neighbor feel that even though they don't have much in life, they, too, have something to give without her mom being a burden to them. Even though it was as simple as salt, they were still able to give something in their own little way. At the same time, their neighbors won't feel ashamed to ask for help from them in the future or feel like they are being a burden to others by asking for help.

"I heard my mother asking our neighbor for some salt. I asked her why she was asking them as we have salt at home. She replied: 'It's because they are always asking us for things; they're poor. So, I thought I'd ask something small from them so as not (to) burden them, but at the same time make them feel as if we need them too. That way, it'll be easier for them to ask us for anything they need from us,'" the post read.

The post also resonated with the people who have come across it, with some saying they have also experienced the same situation while others reevaluated themselves.

One person who goes by angel13molly said her mom also did the same thing for others, saying those little things bring these kids so much happiness.

"My mom does this kind of thing with her neighbors. They're not in the best place to give because money-wise or really food-wise. So instead, she'll ask the kids if they can bring up her trashes when she's out of town (like for her vacation),'" angel13molly said.

"She usually offers them like $2 each for it as well," she said. "It brings those children so much happiness," she added.

TheGreatPlathetsby, for one, said he can relate to the Reddit post, saying he himself grew up poor, so he always had that pride in him on top of the fear of being a burden to others.

"Being someone who grew up poor, I understand this pride and fear of becoming a burden on others. What always helped my mother was feeling like she earned whatever we got," TheGreatPlathetsby said.

He added by saying that exchanging whatever goods they have at home somehow helped alleviate that pride and made them feel like they, too, are humans.

"So neighbors and family would have her or us help with something in exchange for something we needed. It helped us both with whatever we needed as well as helping us retain our pride and humanity," TheGreatPlathetsby said.

But those experiences allowed him to learn how to pay it forward, saying it also makes him happy knowing other people consider people like him who, at one point in time, struggled to make ends meet.

"I honestly do the same thing with people struggling in my community that I know. It allows them to accept help and both of us to retain our fullest sense of humanity," he said.

"We have made the idea of struggling or being poor meaning you haven't tried or worked enough when that often isn't the case. Receiving support ends up feeling like you are admitting you have failed in some aspect. I wish we could get past this idea, but in the meantime I am so happy others are taking how a struggling family feels in mind," he added.

One other person, adrock747, said it inspired him to do the same thing to others.

"That is such a decent thing to do. I need to remember this and try to live up to this example. Good stuff," he said.

Some studies have proven that helping others can make someone happy, according to HuffPost. For one, there's a phenomenon psychologists call "helper's high," where being generous can help release "feel-good chemicals" in the body.

Not only does giving back help others, but it also makes one feel happy, too.

Were you also inspired to give back to others? Let us know what you think, and pass this on to your family and friends to inspire them too!