The Real Tribute To A Mother

I was taking clothes out of the washer and I found a HUGE paper clip.  Eler Beth saw it in my hand.

"Oh, that's mine.  I must have left it in my pocket.  Heather gave it to me."

Heather is Eler Beth's eight-year-old cousin.

"I don't know why she wanted to give it to me.  I almost said no, and then I thought about how I'd feel if I wanted to give something to someone and they told me they didn't want it, so I took it and thanked her," she said.

And that made me remember picking Andrew up from Kindergarten one day (13 years ago!!).  He told me about a game they played inside during recess because it was raining.  He described the rules, and I remember asking him who he "chose" during the game, thinking it would be Eric, his best friend at the time, and I was surprised when he said it was Shane.  Shane was a sweet, troubled little boy, who had many learning problems.  I asked why he chose Shane, and he said, "Because nobody ever picks Shane."

 

I look at my kids and I see two very individual, competent, and intelligent people, and I'm so glad that I have them.  They can vex me and worry me, and believe me they do!  I may not write about those times, but they're normal, imperfect kids, so we have plenty of vexation and worry along with the good stuff.  I think about things I've said and done to them that I regret, but they don't seem to be too damaged by my imperfection, so I guess I can forgive myself for those lapses.   I believe I have my own mother to thank for any good parenting traits I may have.  So I not only thank God and my husband for my kids, but I thank her as well. 

When they say and do things like the two instances I cited above, I feel like I've been honored for being their mother, and in turn this honors my own mother.  I can't imagine any better "gift" than this.