Kids Pitch In To Clean Up After Blizzard

(From Left to Right: Reza, Chad, Gianna, Peter and Rassoul Teimouri) The Teimouris make cleaning up the snow a family project. Photo Courtesy of Deanna Teimouri.

Following a snow storm, kids will be kids often means sleds and snowballs; however to some, it means helping their parents and neighbors.

In Bristow, 5-year-old Damien Tillison (who his mom Stephanie says acts like he is 10) loves to help his father.

"Helping has always been his personality, when his sister was born he was 1.5-years-old and very helpful with her," Stephanie said. "Around the house he likes to help, so we always had him do simple things cleaning up toys making bed helping his sister."

After the storm, she said he enjoyed shoveling and made sure his little sister did not ruin the path he made.

Ben Spradlin, 9, cleared the sidewalks to ensure the safety of his neighbors. Photo Courtesy of Beth Spradlin

Some residents made shoveling a family activity.

"My husband, Russ and I just told the kids we were going out to unbury our cars and they all jumped right in," Deanna Teimouri of Bristow said. "They were so excited to help, knowing they would have mountains of snow to play in."

Teimouri said all the kids are/were scouts.

"They were tired but felt accomplished," she said.

Beth Spradlin of Bristow commends her 9-year-old son Ben for his concern about the safety of their neighbors following the storm.

"He began to see how much snow was actually falling and wanted to make sure the people who walk on the sidewalk had a safe place safe to walk," she said.  "He said to me, 'Mommy we want the kids and the families and their pets to be safe if they have to walk outside.' So he bundled up, ready to begin his adventure."

Damian Tillson, 5, loves to do everything his dad does. Photo Courtesy of Stephanie Tilson

That sense of compassion and pride in their neighbors is also evident in teens.

Leslie Collins Coster of Bristow wanted to make sure we mentioned JT Street, 16, of Bristow, a Battlefield High School student who spent hours helping his neighbors.

"[JT] pent over three hours helping me dig out my car since my husbands back is injured and then he plowed my driveway too! Amazing," she said. "He's always willing to help, friendly, and great kid!"