I have always worried that I would raise spoiled children who wanted for nothing. I have spent years second guessing everything that I have bought them, worried they would take it for granted. Then, when my oldest was around 10 years old, we started volunteering at a Soup Kitchen and it meant so much having him find a way to give-back.

Fast forward a couple of years later, I decided to open and run a Soup Kitchen in Chicago and it has been the best gift I could have given my children. They volunteer often, they ask for donations instead of birthday presents (well- I do have to encourage them to do this) and my now 17-year-old in the photo below, runs my new "Little Free Pantry" project. It's a win-win. I believe these small gestures help raise grounded kids. You can learn more about these projects here: www.mommachef.com/soup-kitchen