Close Ad

Worried Dad Asks 9-Year-Old Son What He Constantly Watches Online - His Response Is Surprising
9 year old donates his entire life savings to a homeless shelter
Uplifting News

Worried Dad Asks 9-Year-Old Son What He Constantly Watches Online - His Response Is Surprising

Even at nine years old, one little boy knew he could make a positive impact when he donated his life savings to a homeless shelter.

Most parents are afraid of what a lot of time online might inspire in their kids, but Ethan Simons does not have to worry about that with his nine-year-old son.

Ethan often worried that his son Nathan spent too much time online. He tried keeping a close eye over what Nathan would watch but wasn’t always able to.


Fortunately, Nathan made it clear what he watched, and it made Ethan proud.

RELATED: Homeless Man Follows Woman Into H&M Store - What He Did Next Takes Her by Surprise

The videos Nathan watched were of other people doing good deeds. For example, one clip showed a group donating to a homeless shelter. Nathan decided he wanted to do that, too.

Nathan approached his dad with a wish: He wanted to give back by donating the money he saved.

“I told my dad a couple hours later when I got done watching the video, ‘I wanna do what they did,'” Nathan told WQAD.

Why One Dad Was Hesitant to Donate His Son’s Money

pink piggy bank surrounded by gold coins
Photo by Braňo on Unsplash

Ethan didn’t know if it was a good idea for his son to donate all the money he had, but in the end, not only did Ethan go along with his son’s wishes, he also promised to match his son’s donations.

“There was part of me that almost wanted me to talk him out of it,” Ethan says. “But what kind of lesson am I teaching him if I tell him, ‘No, you shouldn’t be selfless.'”

RELATED: Homeless Man Returns Lost Wallet, Gets Rewarded For His Integrity By 12-Year-Old Girl

Nathan’s first plan of action was to research local homeless shelters. When he got in contact with one — Christian Care in Rock Island — he made a list of all the supplies they needed. From there, it was off to the grocery store.

“I got my list, and it’s for what we need to buy for the homeless shelter,” Nathan said.

The father and son took out $150 from both Nathan and Ethan’s accounts, leaving only a few dollars in Nathan’s to keep it active.

How a Little Boy’s Actions Led to a Kindness Domino Effect

Afterward, the two went to the Silvis Walmart to buy the essentials: gloves, hot sauce, barbecue sauce, and shoes. With his remaining cash, Nathan bought cookies and cake pops. 

“It makes me feel happy and proud of myself,” he said. “It’s just hard to give it away sometimes. But I’m thinking … about other people.”

Nathan and his father then brought the items to the shelter.

RELATED: Woman Loses Engagement Ring In Homeless Man's Change Cup - He Returns It

“It feels good,” Nathan said. “I wish I could have it myself, but I have to think about other people sometimes.”

Inspired by others, Nathan decided to give back to his community. At only nine-years-old, Nathan understands the importance of helping others. He even convinced his father to give back. The more people help, the more others are inspired by their kindness, and the more good is done in the world. 

More Uplifting News from Goalcast:

make a difference
"A small change can make a big difference. You are the only one who can make our world a better place to inhabit." - Theodore Roosevelt

Hot Stories

Why Jennifer Hudson Forgave Her Mother's Killer -- Life Stories By Goalcast

At the peak of her career, Jennifer Hudson faced a horrific family tragedy. Hudson's mother and brother were brutally attacked in their family home, and her seven-year-old nephew was kidnapped. What followed was a heart-wrenching manhunt to rescue her nephew and seek justice against the man who took her family. Hudson speaks from the heart in this video on what happened to her family and how she was able to move forward.

Celebrities
ideas and thinking

bright ideas

The 21st century has brought great new opportunities for entrepreneurs. The digital revolution has completely changed the way we live -- and the landscape for aspiring CEOs and innovators.

powerful-business-woman

Keep ReadingShow less
Entrepreneurs
Sad woman arms on face
woman crying on a beach

While life is beautiful in so many ways, it is also filled with struggles and obstacles. We can’t truly appreciate happiness without experiencing some sort of pain.

Pain is inevitable. No matter how much we try to prevent bad things from happening, life will strike. Maybe you will have to face grief, betrayal or a broken heart. These experiences can tear you down in unspeakable ways. Some of them will cause so much pain that you’ll do anything that comes to mind to avoid it or feel a bit of joy, even if just for a few seconds.

Keep ReadingShow less
Authors