There are several types of proud parent moments. My favorite proud parent moments are when your child does something, on their own, without knowing that you are looking at them – and it’s the right thing.
If Elijah stops and picks up his toys and puts them away before going outside or doing something else. I am always amazed and happy. It’s not in his nature (or mine which is probably the problem) to do such a thing and if he does. Well I’m just proud.
It’s also the same as watching Isaiah practicing blowing his nose on his shirt (or paper towel; or putting stuff in the trash can (stuff that’s supposed to be there).
And then there are the proud parent recognition moments. I had one of those yesterday. In the morning, I wait with Elijah to catch the bus. I usually start to walk away before the bus gets there. Usually in the morning, I tease Elijah and ask him if he wants me to give him a kiss in front of everyone on the bus – which is a big NO! Though he still likes the hugs – so we settle.
Anyway, as I was walking back to the school, letting Elijah hover on the curb and look cool in his grown up aloneness. All of the sudden, I heard the bus horn. I glanced back and saw the bus driver (a little old lady who looks like she should be making cookies in a kitchen instead of driving a bus) beckoning me.
“I just wanted to tell you what a delightful young man Elijah is.” She said. And per my accepting a compliment for my children training, I said “why thank you.” “He’s just a good boy.”
I was quite pleased. It is so nice to have someone tell you that your son is a good child.
Of course, then I began to ponder my own childhood dilemma. The fact that adults always seemed to like me while I had a hard time making friends my own age. Isn’t it odd how parents worry that children will have the problems that they had growing up. I never had many friends my own age until I became an adult. I wouldn’t wish that middle school or high school experience on anyone. I wouldn’t want Elijah to not have many friends when he is younger. Of course fate doesn’t actually work that way. What will happen is that he’ll have a whole bunch of different problems that don’t have anything to do with my own issues. Although, let me say that if my child comes home and starts talking about other people the way those teenagers on Laguna Beach talk about their classmates, he’s going to have a hard row to hoe at his house – because I just won’t have it. Mostly because I was always the weird person being talked about.
