Friday, July 18, 2008

My Recent Homework Assignment

My son came home from school one day about a week ago now, and told me that either his dad or I had a "homework" assignment to do for his science teacher.

The assignment was to write (in a million words or less! :), a description of my child. I could write anything I wanted. Here's what I chose to hand in:

September 26, 2006

I think there comes a time in everyone's life where they know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that they've crossed the threshold from childhood to adulthood, and there's no turning back. EVER. That day officially came for me on September 30, 1994, when a bright, beautiful, pink little boy was delivered up onto my stomach, still wet and warm from being inside of me, and he looked at me with those big, soulful eyes as if to say, "What was THAT all about?"

I say "officially" because that moment of reckoning really came for me when my husband and I were FINALLY told, after dealing with month after month of infertility, that we had succeeded. That a new little life was finally going to be delivered to us. That I was going to become what I'd dreamed about and longed for since I was a little girl - a mother.

The pregnancy itself wasn't without trouble and strife. I spotted almost every month like clockwork almost the entire time I carried him, and a miscarriage even loomed once during the end of the first trimester. But I knew that my love for this tiny person nestled deep within me would be enough to sustain us both. Somehow, it just HAD to be enough.

So, when I saw that beautiful little boy face-to-face for the very first time, I knew that my life would be changed forever, and that he'd given me the greatest gift I could ask for. Because of him, I was finally a mom. Because of him, I crossed over that threshold into adulthood.

In the almost twelve years since we "officially" glanced at each other that first time, not a day has gone by when I haven't been grateful. I know parents like to boast (I think it's part of our genetic makeup!), but you will see for yourself that my son really is a GOOD kid. He's smart, kind, and respectful, and always has been. He's ALWAYS done what he was told, and has never given us an ounce of trouble or worry. He's the kind of kid who'd rather sit and read then go outside and play, but he'll do what he can to help me to take care of his two sisters (no matter how "annoying" they can get! ;)

I can even go so far as to say he's been the healthiest of my three children. The only thing that ever seems to plague him is his seasonal allergies. And even then, he doesn't complain. He takes his antihistamine and rolls with it.

It's my belief that the true measure of any kid is to ask yourself, "If he wasn't MY kid, would I still like him?" And, I think, as far as my son is concerned, my answer will always be a resounding "Yes!" It's my hope that you come to feel the same way.

Not quite a million words, but enough, I'd say... wouldn't you? :)


~~Originally posted on my MySpace blog on October 4, 2006

2 comments:

Erica said...

sniffle... I loved reading that.

Mama C. said...

His science teacher last year was a real love. She e-mailed me soon after she received my "assignment" and said it was one of the best submissions she'd ever read. She said she got all weepy over it, too.

The best part is, it's totally true.