But one afternoon, while Emma and I were waiting for Sophie outside her house, my daughter asked a question I wasn’t prepared to answer.
“Mom, why doesn’t Sophie’s mom ever drive us?”
I glanced at her through the rearview mirror.
“What do you mean?”
“Why are we always picking Sophie up? Why doesn’t she ever take us?”
I smiled.
“Because we help people when we can, sweetheart. That’s what good neighbors do.”
Emma looked out the window.
“But you always help everyone.”
I nodded.
“That’s not a bad thing.”
She was quiet for a moment.
Then she asked, “Doesn’t someone ever help you?”
I laughed softly.
“I don’t need help getting you to school. We’re already in the car.”
At the time, I thought I was teaching her generosity.
I didn’t realize I was also teaching her that my time, my money, and my convenience mattered less than everyone else’s.
