This is really daughter Sarah’s blog or story, and I hope I can relate it to you as she told it to me on her morning visit. With a car loaded down with mulch and plants, she was excited to spend the afternoon outside, which the school holiday allowed this educator.
“ Well let me tell you about the mother and child in front of me in line at Martins, Mom!” I was all ready to hear one of those ghastly spoiled brat stories that you probably have seen many times, but I could tell by Sarah’s face, I was about to hear something different.
The young mother had a little girl in the cart seat as she was putting groceries on the checkout belt. The mother says to the child, calling her name, “Do you see that cucumber and pepper back there? You are going to have to help me!” So the child turns in her seat and hands the items to the Mom, who thanks her, calling her by name. Then the mother says, “ I need you to reach that bag for me … it might be too heavy, but can you try.” The child again,, with some effort hands the bag to the mother, saying, “It’s not heavy Mommy!” Again being acknowledged for her effort.
Sarah said by then she had to say something, asking how old the little girl was…..two, the mother said. Sarah then said, “ she probably won’t know what you have done for her until she’s in her twenties, but having taught school for thirty some years, I know what you did for her in this simple task. You gave her responsibility, you gave her acknowledgement, you gave her a sense of self worth.”
Just one small story about parenting that goes on every day, and the ones we acknowledge are usually the ones missing the opportunity to make an indelible mark on our children’s attitudes about life and how important they are to us. Thank you Sarah for your words to that young Mom.
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