Day 4:Gifts From My Kids

My kids bring me joy. On Mother's Day, their gifts remind me of qualities I love in my kids.

Huckle, almost 10 years old, has always been a saver. He collects anything, can throw away nothing, and loves to earn money for the sake of having it, saving it, perhaps even hoarding it. Huckle is the kind of kid that still has Christmas candy at Easter, Easter candy at Halloween, and Halloween candy at Christmas.

Huckle bought me an orange begonia for Mother's Day. The sweetness is that my dear boy parted with his hard-earned money for me. That's love.

Sally, age 7 and missing her two front teeth, is a spender. Money falls through her fingers as fast as she earns it. Her Christmas, Easter, and Halloween candy disappear within days. But Sally is generous. She showers her friends and parents with homemade gifts. If she has two of anything, she gives one to her brother. Or one to her brother and one to a friend. What Sally does not give freely is hugs and kisses. She only demonstrates her love on her own terms.

Sally gave me a coupon book for Mother's Day that included a coupon for a free hug.
I used it right away.
"This is great!" I told her. "Is the coupon re-usable?"
She thought about it. "Yes. Except for the ones about taking out the trash and about doing the dishes."
The sweetness is that my dear girl parted with her control of physical affection for Mother's Day. That's love.