Thinking about how one of the (many) reasons why Alma Madrigal probably pushed her family so hard to be helpful with their gifts is because she wants so much for the town of fellow refugees uprooted by violence to feel comforted and protected by them, instead of fearing that the power would be wielded over them like the people who drove them from their homes

She knew what they’d all been through and the insecurity that could come with that, and here she had children who could control the weather or and grandchildren who could throw houses, and she wanted that to be a reason to feel *safe* rather than a reason to be afraid.  They’d already faced so much fear.

The pressure the family put on themselves and each other is painful, but man the history of the entire town’s existence adds so much context to that pressure.  Alma loved her family and loved the entire town.  She never wanted to act like she was better than them and wanted to use all the blessings she had to help others.  She just wanted them to be safe and happy.

(That’s also probably one of the reasons why Bruno’s gift jarred so much--it’s useful, but caused fear and distress and warned of bad things rather than preventing the bad things.)