Being Luc's Mom

There are times that I've watched my son with pride from afar and thought, "wow, that's my son." I am moved when I see him give his favorite bunny a hug and kiss and exclaim, "Aww Bunny! I MISSED you!" I smile when he reaches into the cookie jar, brings two cookies out to the living room, and asks, "Need one Mommy?"

We were at a birthday party for our friend's little girl. Luc spotted a platter of brownies on the buffet table. With a party toy in one hand he stood up on his toes to inspect the selection. A friend and I sat back and watched the three-year-old consider his plan of action.

Without saying a word, Luc came over to me and placed the party favor in my lap. He walked back to the buffet table but didn't go to the brownies; instead, he went towards a stack of napkins. He reached for a napkin and mistakenly got two instead of one. His clumsy toddler fingers patiently separated the two napkins. Slowly and deliberately, he unfolded his napkin and laid it in his palm. He gingerly moved his way towards the brownies balancing the open napkin in his palm and proceeded to pick up the brownie using the napkin. My friend and I were shocked! I was filled with pride.

I firmly believe that children learn by what they see. My husband and I have worked hard to instill a sense of cleanliness and courtesy to others in Luc. We routinely wash our hands together at the sink before meals. It's not enough to tell your child to say "please" or "thank you," they need to hear you say it to them.

As Luc ate his brownie, I watched him regard the remaining platter on the table. While chewing, he wondered whether one of the other brownies might be better. And just as I began to feel that truly, I was an exceptional parent, he took his half-eaten-saliva-coated brownie and put it back on the platter and began to grab another…