This week marks the start of Lent and the beginning of the 40acts generosity challenge. I’ve taken part individually over previous years but this year is the first time that the girls will be joining me. We’ve got our 40acts wallchart up and I’m enjoying seeing how enthusiastic and excited Jessica and Sophie are about taking part in each day’s challenge (possibly helped by being able to add a sticker to the chart when they complete it!)
So far, we’ve put together our generosity kit (which includes chocolate, sweeties, some coins, post-it notes and plasters) and made the effort to tell a friend something that we really like about them. Listening to my girls listing all the nice things they could say about their friends over the breakfast table was such a lovely moment.
I’m two months in to my own personal kindness challenge and 40acts fits well with that. Having a definite act for each day makes it a little easier. While I have managed to do something kind each day, they have often been very small things – things that I think I would have done anyway, challenge or no challenge. I love the way that 40acts is also helping me teach the girls to be kind too though. Maybe it will also help give me ideas for acts of kindness to continue with once Easter is over.
Things I have loved this week:
- ​​​Seeing Jessica’s best friend run up to her at a party and give her a cuddle. The displays of affection are usually the other way around, so it made my heart melt to see them being returned.
- Managing to obtain a copy of the local paper from a couple of weeks ago after realising that Sophie was in it due to her winning the trophy for being the youngest person to do LEJOG last year. I’ve also discovered that she is the youngest person ever to win the trophy.
- Pancakes for tea.
- Jessica receiving a Bravery Buddy in the post to snuggle. She had her cardiac check-up this week and all is well at present – the plan is to continue to try to get her to 18kg before her next surgery takes place (she’s currently 16.6kg).
- Hubby getting dressed up in black tie for an awards evening.
- Seeing blossom appearing on the trees and the daffodils starting to come out in the garden.
- Watching Inside No. 9 with hubby.
Good luck with your challenge, although I don’t think you’ll need luck, seems you and the kids are doing it anyway 🙂 Well done to both on their achievements x
Thank you Karen – we’re enjoying it so far 🙂
Sounds like you’re already doing so well with Lent and your challenge, lovely to get the girls involved in this way, too. I love seeing blossom and bulbs coming through, come on spring! Thanks for sharing with #WotW x
Thanks Jocelyn – really nice to be doing the challenge with the girls this year. I love seeing signs of Spring everywhere too 🙂
Ah I’m sure you’ll ace your challenge as you are all so kind! Your hubby looked very dapper as I saw the picture!! Brilliant about the paper feature. Looking forward to hearing how you get on next week xx #wotw
Thank you so much Sarah – I’m enjoying it so far 🙂
What a lovely thing to do I hope it all goes well for you. Well done Sophie that’s quite an achievement and something to be very proud of. Have a lovely weekend. #WotW
Thank you Angela. Hope you are having a lovely weekend too 🙂
How wonderful that you are all taking part in the 40 acts challenge, I’m sure it will bring you all much happiness in return. x
Thank you Anne – it’s lovely to see the girls enjoying taking part 🙂
I love your challenge. Even the small acts add up and change our mindsets. Wonderful to be doing it with the girls too. Good luck to you all. #wotw
Thank you Cheryl. I’m really enjoying taking part and even better to be doing it with the girls 🙂
You are one of the nicest people I know….I don’t think you will have any trouble completing your challenge!
I’m glad the cardiac appointment went well….
Aww thank you so much Kim, that is one of the nicest comments I’ve ever received x
Ah that is such a lovely list Louise and I am thrilled Jessica’s check up went well. I do love a black tie event too, have a lovely week x
Thank you Sarah. Such a relief that all went well with the check-up 🙂
Oh gosh, it’s so lovely that you are doing this with your girls. Did you make up the wall chart list for your challenge yourself or is it one that’s published somewhere? I’d love to see it, it’s something I’d really like to do with my girls, I really think they should learn about it and it’s something I’ve been thinking a lot about lately.
Nat.x
Thank you Nat. We got the wallchart from the 40acts website (www.40acts.org.uk). So lovely to see how much the girls are enjoying taking part – I am sure your girls would love it too 🙂
I love the sound of 40 Acts, but think the littlies are too young at the moment for this. #WotW
It’s a lovely thing to do. My two are really only just old enough – we’ll need to adapt some of the challenges for them but it’s nice to see them wanting to take part 🙂
Great news about Jessica’s check up and lovely to hear about you taking part in 40 cats with your girls. It’s really lovely to do these things together. #wotw
Thank you Carol. We’re really enjoying doing the challenge together 🙂