Before I became a parent, one of the things I must say that I never thought about explaining to my kids was the issue of poverty.  In honor of Blog Action Day today, hopefully it is a subject weighing on our minds and hearts as we embark on turning over a new leaf in our political and economical climate here in the United States.

So how do you introduce the subject and issue of poverty to innocent kids who have had many luxuries in life that my grandparents (and parents, for that matter) could only dream of?  One of the things I think is so important for me anyway, is to keep my kids grounded.  I try hard to not give in to the urge to splurge with them.  Now, I am not always good at this.  I have been known to succumb to impulse buys and such, but for the most part don't make it a habit to give them something just because I can afford to.

Each week as we head off to church it's part of our morning routine to find a canned good or boxed pasta to have with us for the food basket sitting at the altar of the church.  This has become an excellent reason for me to bring up the subject of poverty, particularly with my oldest son, as we talk about why we as a church collect food and where it goes and who it serves.  I've used this as a way to start a dialogue about helping those in need and why it's important and our duty as human beings.

So, on this day, if you are a parent, I encourage you to start a conversation with your kids about poverty and what it means for them and this world.  Feel free to comment with your ideas and findings here as well.  For more of what parents around the blogosphere are doing to raise awareness about this day mosey on over here. ♥