Most everyone I know is generally kind and caring. However one day it took me by complete surprise. And in the elementary school's car pool lane to boot!
A dear friend of mine was having a tough time with her adolescent daughter. She was acting out, threatening to quit school and not respecting anyone including herself.
My friend was thinking herself a failure in the mothering department of life, big time! Even though she had three other kids who were honest (well most of the time), caring and responsible. Anyone who has been at their wits end with a kid misbehaving while taking down everyone around them can relate I'm sure. The feelings of helplessness and at times hopelessness sneak in and make you start wondering, what the heck, what's happening here.
Anyway, one hot spring morning, we were waiting patiently for our turn to drop off the kids at the school's front door (we rode together in her car most days). Suddenly the director and commander of car pool traffic bolted across the lane and knocked on the car window. She was looking quite serious. As I rolled down the window her voice shot through the car like a torpedo headed straight for it's target.
"I just have to tell you something Mrs. Markham," she said. " I want you to know your son, he's in kindergarten right? Well he is one of the nicest, kindest and caring children I have every had the honor of knowing! He stood up to a bully the other day for another child. Never blinked an eye. Well you can bet I congratulated him on being such a brave boy! When I asked him why he did that for a 2nd grader - mind you - he looked me straight in the face and said, I'm not brave, it's just the right thing to do. Nobody has the right to push anybody around and pick on them. Mrs. Markham, thanks for being such a great mom, Nicky is an absolute joy to be around."
And with that, she spun around and moved us up to the drop off exit and the kids jumped out of the car. As the cars were honking their horns behind us, anxious to know what was taking so long. I looked up at my friends face. She was balling her eyes out and trying to catch her breath. All she could sniffle was, that was the kindest thing anyone has ever said to me!
Guess Mrs. Markham didn't get an F for failure in the mothering department after all.
Hugs,
Rhonda
Three cheers for torpedoes of kindness!
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