Let’s talk about Minis and Friends

The site you need to visit for the whole story is:
“www.minisandfriends.org”

When my son had just started in Boy Scouts we found out that in order to get rank advancement he needed to do some community service.  My wife, being the amazing mother that she is, scoured the web looking for an organization that he could help.  He had been taking horseback riding lessons for a while and was familiar with horses, and really enjoyed being around them.  We found that there was an organization that did work with kids and families going through hard times, as well as folks in assisted living facilities, and others.  What a perfect opportunity.  We could all do this, and he could work with horses and see a side of humanity that is sometimes not seen by all.

This group was fun but the only thing that we could go on were the fund raisers and community events.  We wanted to be a part of the work that they do for the community, not just be a part of exposing the group to the community.  This was when a small group of folks started another group called Minis and Friends.  We started working with them, and became a part of their community.  My daughter was about 3 or 4 when all of this started so she has pretty much grown up in the group.  She loves talking to people about what Minis and Friends do, and what the horses can do.

We got Bravo, our paint colored mini, in February of ‘09 so up until then we would just go as handlers.  Now the kids have a very active role, and we have gone on visits with the group.  On Valentine’s Day we took Bravo to an assisted living home that has a range of residents from adults who are ambulatory, and to children who are not.  What an eye opener for all of us.  It was a windy, frigid day, with a heavy cloud cover.  My daughter stayed in the car most of the time.  She was cold but she also was a bit intimidated by the residents.

My son didn’t stay in the car.  He was out leading Bravo around and visiting with the people, both the residents and the other volunteers.  If you have children, and do not do any volunteer work with other types of people (I know that I am not wording this properly but please try to understand what I am saying, not how I am saying it), please do expose them to people who are not as advantaged, or as healthy, or as lucky as they are.  My son was just 15 at that time, and life is hard, as are relationships, and being a part of a family.  Some days are the diamonds and some days are stones.  When we got back into the van and we were riding back to the ranch that we kept Bravo, my boy looked at me and said, “Dad, I want to do that again.  That was incredible.”

I asked him if he really liked it or if he was pulling my leg.

He replied, “Dad, that was life changing.”

Volunteer.  Volunteer with your kids.  Get outside of yourself.  Encourage someone.  Be generous.  It was a battle to get the kids up to go, but that was a battle that I would pick again — in a heartbeat.