Rainbow Academy Newsletter

Giving, Receiving and Learning Charity

Bernadette Tardio
Parent Liaison

"All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth" written in 1946 by Don Gardner is a precious song, which reminds us of simpler times.   It is hard to imagine that in 2009 if we asked the child singing this song what he wants for Christmas and getting the same answer.

Even though many families are struggling, they will still be coerced and quilted into buying an abundance of the latest toys or gadgets this holiday season. Even if we want to tell children, "No and I'm sorry, you won't be getting that toy this year," how do we tell them? Rather than simply saying, "No." maybe we can try gearing them towards simpler and more altruistic wishes.

Many of you know of the battle my family has waged with Neurofibromatosis since my dad was diagnosed with a massive brain tumor in 1980. After I started needing surgeries for tumors, my family and I became very active with The National Neurofibromatosis Foundation, now known as The Children's Tumor Foundation (ctf.org).

As a child, I remember my mom putting a dish on the kitchen table for change to go towards NF research. The idea was before we rode our bikes to the neighborhood ice cream parlor we could put that money in the dish. Far more times than not, we may have chosen Mom's less noble option and put the change from our trip in that dish. In high school and college we sold Entertainment Books and as adults my sisters and I started the upscale May NJ Tea Party for NF. My illness has advanced pretty much beyond my dreams of organizing events, however my sister still runs marathons to raise awareness and money for a NF treatment and a cure. I am proud to say over all these years, my large, middle- class family has raised upwards of $100,000 for this charity.

Our dedication to the fight against NF was a lot of work but it came with so many unbelievable medical and personal rewards. There are many drug trials going on in the US with NF doctors and patients pioneering the way towards an eventual treatment and cure, scientists are constantly studying and investigating in hopes of a cure and because of increased NF awareness, more people will be diagnosed, hopefully leading them towards proper treatment sooner.
The personal rewards have been an enormous source of strength and support:

1.      My faith in God has dramatically increased giving me a calmer inner-peace and the ability to deal with my challenges.
2.     I have met so many wonderful people and made countless dear friends.
3.     From young ages, my nieces and nephews learned that people are different and that no matter what the differences are, everyone deserves acceptance and respect. I have confidence that they will never shy away from someone because of their appearance or challenge.

This past summer really threw me when I spent almost three months between hospitals and a long-term care facility. After all of these years of fighting NF and working towards its demise, I found myself in shock and panic stricken by how to financially be able to go home while affording a live-in caregiver.

It is wonderful and noble to know you are doing charitable and civic deeds, but so difficult when we realize we need to receive that charity ourselves. Our world is consumed with news of terror, murder and other evils. Fortunately, my health and recent struggles have also proven to me that there are far more truly kind and wonderful people in this world that never get the acknowledgement that they deserve.

My friends, family and complete strangers have rallied behind me. Guy, Julia, and the Falzarano family and my Rainbow Academy family via the Rainbow Academy Foundation through various fundraisers have given me piece of mind knowing I will be cared for at home with dignity. Friends I met solely through NF benefits and their personal charity "Kids in Production" recently held a large pasta dinner benefit for me with the aid of more friends, family and local businesses. Again my source of inner strength and peace has been restored and grown dramatically.

In these days of technology and abundance, it is unrealistic to think or expect a child to ask only for "my two front teeth," however it benefits children, families and society to learn giving and receiving go hand-in-hand.
Below is a list of things children, families and NJ daycare can do to make someone's life easier:

1.      Offer up a family gift to someone in need. Many houses of worship can guide you in the right direction.
2.     Send items in need as well as letters and cards to our men and women who proudly serve us in our military.
3.     Call your local nursing home and find out how you can brighten a lonely person's day. Maybe you can bake treats, make cards or sing for those residents. I had so many of the Rainbow Academy children's cards and a quilt hanging in my room. Visitors, as well as other patients, always stopped to admire my decorations. A visitor is always appreciated.
4.     Please add your ideas here.

Our society has come a long way since that long ago Christmas song. We may not have the same humble goals but we do have the same inherent goodness that keeps a successful society working together. As this holiday season approaches, we can bring children back to simpler times by learning it is genuinely better to give than receive.

http://www.rainbowacademy.com/foundation1.html
http://www.kidsinproduction.com/
http://www.carols.org.uk/all_i_want_for_christmas_is_my_two_front_teeth.htm

Bernadette Tardio is Rainbow Academy's on-line expert for early childhood development and education. Also known as "Ask Bernadette," her blog, which can be found at www.rainbowacademy.com, allows parents to speak directly with a seasoned childcare pro, who creates the home-away-from-home atmosphere Rainbow Academy is known for.