Today, my son Beaux (pronounced Bo) made me very proud to be a mom. I used to hate it when parents always bragged on their kids, and I have to admit, I realize now it was just because I didn't get what it meant to be a parent.
We were driving home when my four-year-old asked from the back seat, "You know what Mommy?"
He asks that question frequently. Several times a day and sometimes even several times an hour. He normally follows it up with something profound like, "You're my best friend," or "I love you." Those kinds of things.
Sadly, I've gotten so used to hearing that introductory "You know what Mommy" it's become a little like background noise. My brain has begun to filter it out, so he now has to ask it twice or even three times before I realize he's talking to me.
So, tonight, when his little voice finally nudged its way to the forefront of my brain with his second, "You know what Mommy?" I turned Aretha down with slight disappointment, and said, "Yeah baby?"
What I heard was so much better than whatever it was Aretha was bellowing.
"You smell good."
Feeling very flattered I said, "Oh! Thank you sweetie." (Kind of a sappy family, ours.)
"And I think you're pretty." It just keeps getting better!
"Well thanks!" I said.
And then he threw out the doozy: "I sure like the way God created you."
Wow. The boy sure knows how to lay it on thick, but I couldn't help but be absolutely suckered by it! Needless to say, he got away with all kinds of misbehaving mischief tonight. I finally got him to bed around 10:30 PM, and he even got soda! What can I say? It feels wonderful to know that someone appreciates me just the way I am. It also made me consider the fact that I need to appreciate the way God made me, as do we all.
Plus...I smell good!