Acorn Acres to Acorn Caps!

In 2011 we bought our first home. It was cheaper than the new rent hike that was happening in our apartment. What a scam. We moved an hour away so we could have a spot, a spot our hopeful children could play and climb trees. The ground around the house is covered in oak trees. So naturally I named our new adventure Acorn Acres. Over a year later we became parents, nearly 5 years later we had the experience of being parents for the final time. Fast forward a few months and our oldest started kindergarten. I, still groggy from the fatigue and hormones of motherhood, found great joy in meeting the school’s social worker. She was so excited that I knit and wanted to donate food and jackets.  It felt like something I could contribute to my community while still being in my mommy bubble. Kindergarten was a transformative year for my family.

Fast forward toward first grade. I have a better handle on schedules, school sickness, and all the newness of two kids.

I picked up my first grader and he made a big announcement. “You need to make a sweater for my classmate”

“What?” I say as I help him buckle his belt and slide out of car pick up line.

“You need to make my classmate a sweater. She’s cold.”

“What do you mean sweetie, can you tell me more?”

“I have a classmate who is cold. We need to stop at Walmart on the way home. We have to stop!” By this time we are at the stoplight.

I roll with It.  It’ll be better to have this conversation when I have my youngest out of the carseat.

So now here we are sitting in the Walmart parking lot. I’m nursing my little one. My oldest is standing, talking about his classmate.

 “She’s cold, we can help her.”

I see the pure loving kindness in his spirit and refuse to crush it.

“Okay,” I say. “But a sweater takes a very long time to make and I don’t know her size, or how long her arms are…”

My son is irritated and says, “Well a scarf!”

“Yes” I say a scarf, we can do a scarf.

I email his teacher as I finish nursing. Preparing for an epic poop before it’s safe to enter the store.

I ask if she is willing to help us on our “secret scarf plan.”

I have already had a conversation about how helping is wonderful, but we should always be respectful of how we share our gift.

 “Sometimes when someone is cold, they don’t want to ask for help. That it can be embarrassing to not have what you would like.”

So “Mommy is happy to help you help your classmate, but we need to NEVER say something like, oh my mom made that.”

The nursing is done, the epic poop has been dealt with and we are all too happy to brave the cold parking lot to get some fresh air. 

My son searches Walmart’s yarn selection for 20 minutes before making his final selection.

Beautiful bright vibrant colors. A small cake of soft yarn. He holds it to his face and determines it is not scratchy. It will do. I load everyone back into the carseats, drive home. I look in the backseat. The little one is sleeping, my oldest is still holding the yarn. I am exhausted, overwhelmed and so full of pride.

I make the scarf with encouragement and the blessing of his wonderful teacher. We have the secret transportation of the scarf so that no one is embarrassed or unkind.

Later that day the teacher tells me that it’s the perfect colors, it matches the childs taste. I share the kind words with my son. Help him soak in the beauty of his achievement.

Soon after we reach a deal. If my son reads, I will knit donation hats. 

Since that day his reading level has only grown. We have donated over 150 hats since 2017. Each hat takes 8 hours to make. I knit in the carline, on road trips, while watching my kids play. I never have a bag with me that does not have a hat in progress.

In the first few years I restricted our grocery budget to afford the yarn. The last few years I started a side business, selling items I normally would only make as a gift, to pay for the cost of yarn I need. I took up leatherworking during the pandemic. I sold some beautiful tote bags to fund me. Last year I was able to make 42 hats! It was amazing to see my kids so proud of me. Proud to help their community. Excited to hear them tell me, “mommy I saw one of your hats today at recess, I did like you said, I smiled and said, I like your hat, and guess what? They asked me to play with them!”

I can not give up knitting hats. It’s a part of me now. It’s a beautiful reminder to my sons to think about others, and treat everyone with kindness. I’ve been asked why I am obsessed with knitting hats. Why don’t I take a break?

“Because every child deserves to feel warm and loved.”

 If one hat can make one kid feel like they are supported in our community, do you know how powerful that is?

 I fully accept that some hats are probably lost under the back seats of cars, or left in the lost and found, and I have peace with that.

I will pick to have it be a fleeting moment of joy for one kid, then to think about helping and never following through.

 My dream is to have a non-profit. That is able to donate handmade hats and new coats to my community. To be able to share some kindness, some love, some encouragement.

 I am now asking for support. I am asking, if you have made it this far, you are probably slightly interested in my story…can you help?

I need new, clean yarn. Weight 4 please. Any color, any colors, any quantity.

I am asking for new kids jackets of any color, any size.

I will accept Venmo and send you a picture of what was purchased and where it went, if you trust me.

 It all makes a difference. I hate that schools still have to do coat drives. 

My youngest started kindergarten this year, I started a part time job. A small unicorn of a job that allows me to work when my kids are in school. I’m saving enough to find and pay for a tax lawyer to help me set up a non profit. I am determined to show my sons that their sweet spirits and gentle souls can change our community and make a difference. I can not wait to see what the future holds. I have named the non profit Acorn Caps. At our house it is rare to not see an Acorn Cap. My sons love the name.

They see one and ask what the hat count is, “How many hats do you have to donate mom?”

Please help me have more hats to donate.

I appreciate your time, your kindness in reading this. I hope you have a beautiful day.

Thank you,

Rhesa