Carter ran from door to door around our cul-de-sac, bags of freshly baked cookies clutched in his fist. He respected social distancing, knocking, putting the cookies down, and stepping away to wait and see if someone answered. If they did not, he picked them up and went along his way.

This morning after way too much time staring at a computer screen in the name of remote learning, I suggested he go find something to cook or bake for us. I really did not think he would take me up on it, but he did, for when I wandered into the kitchen to put my dirty coffee cup in the sink, containers of flour and sugars were stacked tall, pyramid style on our counter. He had looked through one of my recipe boxes and had selected a chocolate chip cookie recipe I had gotten from his Farmor’s neighbor (Farmor, being Swedish for father’s mother) a long time ago and had only made once. The recipe is good, great even, but it is one of those that gets shuffled to the back and forgotten.

Carter is not one for coddling. He is independent and for the most part, competent, so I went back to work in my bedroom/office. I did ask him if I could take a picture of him baking so I could share it with his Farmor, to which he agreed.

He made the cookies small, pleased with himself that his cookie yield was higher than what was recorded on the recipe. He also happens to be rather competitive, if I have not mentioned it before.

The sharing of the cookies with our neighbors was completely his idea and it made me so proud as I watched him flit from house to house proud to share his chocolate chipped treats.

During this time of limited movement, I have been baking and cooking more. I have shared all sorts of various treats with our neighbors, even providing some meals here and there to one older gentleman who lives alone across the cul-de-sac.

Modeling kindness, showing empathy, and sharing. It is a beautiful, beautiful thing to see this circle round and passed along. Especially if it is your own child doing it.