I Heart Mommy and Dad

There are days I question my parenting... Who am I kidding?! I question my parenting on daily basis! On some days my parenting is a completely dubious anomaly and I can't figure out what I did to contribute to the shaping of my children's' behavior. I can't go to a store without my kids wanting something, and more often than not they actually expect me to buy them something, whether it's a toy, chocolate milk, a book, stickers, a craft... anything! I know that at their age selfishness isn't exactly a choice, but sometimes I feel like I could be doing so much more to help curb their me-me-me's and steer them more toward a more philanthropic nature.

Then there are the days when my children seem to really think outside of themselves. Like when I am sitting with my older daughter as she falls asleep and she jumps up to get me a blanket so I can be warm, though I never mentioned being cold. Or when my son gives me the bigger half of his chocolate chip cookie, though I didn't even ask if I could have even a bite. Even my littlest girl gives me the sweetest little smiles that have no strings attached (though I'm not sure how "selfish" a seven-month-old can be). I am reminded by these little acts of honest, considerate actions my children have displayed to know that I MUST be doing something right.

Tonight I helped my oldest daughter with a homework project. She had to write a little bio for her class, describing whatever she chose to share about herself. It could include her family, her favorite colors or animals, what she liked to do, etc. I helped her with the spelling, but what she came up with was all her. There wasn't a single statement about material objects, like her toys, which was surprising. Instead, she thought to include what she liked to do, which was playing, and that she loved her mommy and dad. I know my daughter loves me, and so that wasn't the surprise. The surprise was that she chose to include it to share with her teacher and classmates, since she has never done that before. Her first responses when asked about herself usually have to do with her favorite toys, or toys she wants, or toys she "thinks" she is going to get for her birthday. It seems I must be doing something right that my daughter feels her love for her parents is an important part of herself.

Maybe I'm just over analyzing my daughter's project. Maybe not. Either way, it makes my heart happy.