The Nice Experiment

It's hard to be nice. We found that out this month. I charged the kids (and myself) with doing one nice thing every day in December. By about the 10th, the kids had lost steam and interest and I found it difficult to do something especially kind each day.

We didn't set out to do anything incredibly profound; we brought coffee for Ben's teacher and dropped off some secret Santa presents for some special people. We let a woman ahead of us in line as she juggled her shopping as well as her baby, his car seat, and a toddler covered from ear to ear in chocolate. We also helped four different families that were struggling this holiday season.

I was a bit disappointed by the experiment at first. It seemed like we were failing at our random niceness exercise. Then it hit me. I realized that maybe we didn't need to be doing it in the first place.

Ben couldn't report back a nice act for the day, but that didn't mean that he hadn't been doing nice things. Every day he ties his classmate's shoelaces before his own because she doesn't know how to do it herself yet. He shares toys, is considerate of others, and goes out of his way to make sure those around him are happy.

Carmen shrugged when I asked about her nice acts but she too was already doing them. She will stay in at recess to sit with a friend who was not feeling well. She shares her prized possessions -- her books -- with friends who she thinks would enjoy them. She thinks of other people's feelings and is upset when they are sad or hurting or mistreated.

And I live my life on the premise that you reap what you sow, do unto others and all that. I try to be thoughtful and considerate and, although I don't always succeed, I think I am a generally kind, nice person.

Now I know that we don't have to set out to find nice things to do for others. We just need to keep doing what we've been doing. I can't tell you how proud of my family that makes me. We are nice after all!

Shopping Hell -- A Crude Adaption of Jingle Bells

Dashing through the mall

On a shortbread sugar high

Crowds of people pushing,

I think I just might cry.

Bells on store doors jingle

Mocking those who shop,
Just what was I thinking
To even make this stop?

Shopping hell, shopping hell

Shopping all the day.
Oh what fun it’d be to leave
This shopping mall today.

A day or two ago

I thought I had it all
A gift for kith and kin
And no trips to the mall.

But there are gifts outstanding

That I really have to find
So off to fight the shopping folks --
I’ve lost my frickin’ mind!

Shopping hell, shopping hell,

Shopping all the day.
Oh what fun it’d be to leave
This shopping mall today. 

Lines as far as eyes can see

And nothing on the shelves
What I wouldn’t give to have
A slew of shopping elves!

Scowling clerks and workers

Wishing they weren’t here.
They really don't seem to have
An ounce of Christmas cheer.

Throwing elbows, pushing past

This isn’t that much fun!
I guess it’s cash in stockings
For each and every one!

Shopping hell, shopping hell

Shopping all the day.
Oh what fun it’d be to leave
This shopping mall today.