Something that gives me a lot of mothering joy is when I hear "field reports" about my kids. I mean, really...one of the main elements of parenting is that you're raising these human beings to send them out into the world. And you can hope that you're raising kind, open-hearted, curious children (or whatever your goal for them might be), but if they aren't perceived as kind (etc...) by others, then what the heck does it matter?
I only get to be their "mothering mother" for 18 years, and then the hope is that they're fairly well-formed human beings...going out into the world making good choices for themselves. We grow and evolve our whole lives, certainly, but that parent-centric part of laying the foundation -- well, I can just hope I use my 18 years with them well, and then can bask in watching them be really great adults leading lives that fill them with joy.
An oversimplification, I know...but I'm writing a blog-post, not a book.
So this is an excerpt of an email about Simone today, from one of her co-op teachers. It made me laugh so hard (we're going to call her "Hot Mess Monie") and get misty-eyed with pride, that in her little 3-year-old way, she is going out into the world and making people laugh. And, watching her form these relationships outside of the family - pulling important persons, like Suzanne, into her fabric. Writing her own life story, filled with her own characters and dialogue.
From Suzanne:
I just adore her and can't wait to see what she grows up to be. I love
her independence and the way she knows her own mind at such an early age. I
love how she is so cute and pretty and has all the trappings to be this
"pottery barn kids model" little girl, but instead, she is a hot
mess, with mismatched clothes and shoes or no shoes--hair askew--I mean it is
so cute and so awesome all at the same time.
When we did the little TVs--she
said she wanted a picture of her mom and so I drew a little stick figure mom.
(Just for fun, I had you holding a flower--all she had said was draw a picture
of my mom.) Well, she said, "What is that," and I said, "a
flower," and she said, "No, I gave her a leaf." I love so many
things about that story. She made me laugh all the time.
