T.O.

We took the kids to Toronto last night to see Hilary Duff in concert.

We stopped at McDonalds for dinner. (I know - YUCK!) Standing by the door was a shirtless man asking everyone for a dollar. Emily was freaked out by the man. She felt sorry for him but was also afraid of him at the same time. We discussed it as a family while we ate. We considered buying him a hamburger. We wondered if he was for real. We talked about drug and alcohol abuse. We talked about taking control of your own life. We talked about the many opportunities in this country. I thought about asking for an application to work at McDonalds and handing it to the man standing outside. And then I realized that I too am unemployed and have not yet picked up a McD's application for myself. I thought about how much I had already judged the man and assumed that I was somehow better than him. When we left the "restaurant", he was gone.
And we went on to spend another $20 on parking, another unknown amount on drinks, the girls spent part of their savings on overpriced T-shirts and glow-sticks and we filled up the gas tank on the way home.

Hubby hopes that the kids have learned that we have what we have because we have worked hard for it. I want them to learn that lesson too. But I hope we don't forget to teach them compassion for those less fortunate.