Parenting is not a profession with a lot of feedback. I sometimes wish I could get a grade or a progress report or something to tell me whether or not my children are going to turn out well.
Once in awhile I do notice a moment when I think, ‘okay, now I can really see how I’m doing.’
Unfortunately, because I tend to be a big on the negativ-o side of things, I usually become aware of these pass/fail moments at a bad time. I will never forget the first one I had. It happened right in the middle of one of Miss 9’s very first Primary (children’s church group) Presentations. As I watched her twirling, laughing, throwing her dress over her head and completely unraveling the teacher who was supposed to be keeping her reverent, I thought to myself, ‘okay, now I can really see how I’m doing: Not Good.’
I have learned out of necessity (or Miss 3 to be more exact) to be a bit more lenient with myself at these moments. I have gained some perspective.
Today brought another one of these moments. For a few weeks now, Miss 9 has been mentioning that she has been working on a surprise. I tried to crack her open and get to the bottom of her secret, but to no avail. She has been unusually vault-ish. On the way home from school today, she finally revealed her secret.
Since the beginning of the school year, she has been sacrificing and not eating any of the little treats her teachers pass out. She has been saving them up, one by one, so that she could have one treat for each of us. Every night we read scriptures and have a small “night-night treat” before bed and she wanted to have enough for everyone in the family. She even saved one for Fat Happy Walking Baby.
I was so surprised and happy at her thoughtfulness. It made my negativ-o little brain take a rest and think, maybe, just maybe, this little girl is going to turn out alright.
Maybe I am doing alright.
