It was meet-the-teacher night at the boys’ school last week. Since Simon has the same two teachers he had last year (and that Tristan had as well) I’m pretty comfortable with that relationship. I was looking forward to meeting Tristan’s new teacher though.
I sat in Tristan’s desk in the back row and looked around, full of awe and wonder that he’s in Grade Two but I clearly remember Grade Two. The kids left stuff out on their desks for us to look through, and there were heaps of administrivia, much of it relating to First Communion later this year. They have two class Webkinzes and lots of affection from the teacher and 20 minutes of homework a night, which seems a little steep to me, but it looks like it’s going to be a good year.
One of the handouts on the desk was a booklet was called “Diary of a Second Grader.” It was filled with photocopied worksheets they had completed like, “My favourite recess activity is…” and “The thing I am good at is….” I was enjoying reading it, knowing most of the answers before I finished reading the question but happy to have this sweet insight into the mind of my occasionally stoic seven-year-old.
One page said across the top: “My mom says there are three things that I need to remember when I go out into the world.” These were Tristan’s answers:
- Do not stand on the fernitur (sic)
- Be polite at somebody else’s house
- I will always love you.
Isn’t that the best? One of the three primary messages that my son carries out into the world is that I will always love him. I am a good mother!
Excuse me while I go take my shiny bauble of parental affirmation and frame it on the wall, for reference the other 99 per cent of the time when I feel like I’m making things up as I go along and really have no clue as to what I’m doing.
“I will always love you.” Sigh….
Frame away!!
I’m all teary here, reading this.
And clearly, you are doing a GREAT job.
Awwwwwwwwwwww.
That’s wonderful! You obviously have a good relationship and he’s taking a pretty important message with him every day.
OMG, I teared up. What a wonderful moment!
That is so sweet! What a fabulous, fabulous moment.
(And being polite at other people’s houses isn’t a bad message, either.)
I think you should photocopy that and show it to him when/if he is a rebellious teen-ager.
I am such a softy for things like this. 🙂
Oh how sweet! I would totally frame that too.
In JK my first son did an exercise for fathers day. Each child had to tell the teacher the favourite thing their father does with them. At the time my husband was the stay at home parent with our 10 month old. All the answers were put onto a sheet and sent home. So every parent got to read every other child’s response. My sons response: “I love my Dad because he lets me play video games by myself.” LOL We still have it. It isn’t framed mind you. But its a keeper!
This touched my heart in such a way that, years from now, when I’m old(er) and crazy(er), my foggy memory will undoubtedly appropriate this story as my own. I’ll probably even hunt through the attic for the framed sheet, randomly humming snippets of Duran Duran songs while my grandchildren knowingly roll their eyes. I apologize in advance, but these are the risks you take when you share your bestest stories!
That seems like a fair trade, Trixie. I’ve already appropriated the story of your son’s creative use of toilet paper as my own!
This is my recipe for Apple Crisp…sorry it took so long.
3 to 4 med size tart apples,peeled, cored,sliced
3/4 cup rolled oats
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup magarine
Spread apples in greased 8″x8″ pan, set aside. Mix oats, sugar, flour,
cinnamon. Cut in magarine with a fork. Sprinkle evenly over apples. Bake @ 350 F for 35 to 45 minutes or until apples are tender & topping is crisp.
What a gift, reading that 🙂
awwwwww I would bawl with joy – what a great mama (and kiddo!)