Doin’ It Right

Doin’ It Right

I’ll be the first to admit that my child is not perfect, but I won’t go into details because I just can’t be that mom. Someday, she’ll find my blog, read what I’ve written, and I figure I’ll do enough damage in day-to-day parenting imperfections, that I don’t need to vent so publicly to the world. Still, despite the girl’s behavior at the moment (suffice it to say, we’re having some difficulties), I have to share a story about her that just made my heart so happy.

Let me start with this. Rather than get store-bought valentines or have me create a forced perspective image that could be made into a card, bestowing the recipient with a fun pencil or DumDum, the girl decided to create cards out of markers and computer paper – folded hamburger style, of course. In each card, she penned a little note – each unique to the kid for whom she was writing it (English major – can’t end a sentence with “for” without cringing). Then, she’d draw some sort of heart-themed picture, and sign it with a heart and her name. It’s so cute, and old school, and thoughtful, and I didn’t think I could be more proud of her. But, what she told me about one card she made last night had me fighting back tears.

Valentine

This particular card was for a boy in her class. No, she does not have a crush on him. But, she did tell me that he speaks very quietly, or not at all. She was drawing a rather elaborate picture, and I asked her if she was sure she wanted to be that fancy because the rest of the card she’d made weren’t so elaborate. She told me that the boy is shy, and she thought that maybe if she made him a really nice picture, it will make him feel better and he wouldn’t be so shy anymore.

The next time I wonder if any bad behavior from her is because I’m not doing a good job as a mom, I will try to remember this story. This is proof I’m doing something right.