Encourage selfless, hard-working parents

CINDY TRANE CHRISTESON

“I wonder why it is that we are not all kinder to each other ... How

much the world needs it! How easily it is done!”

-- HENRY DRUMMOND

I couldn’t take my eyes off him. I was in a bookstore, but I was

far more interested in a sweet scene near me than anything on the

shelves.

I watched a little boy who wore dark blue jeans and a bright red

shirt and had curly black hair and dark brown eyes. He stood near his

mother and his little sister in a stroller.

He seemed unusually attentive, loving and caring. He briefly

glanced at me and smiled. I smiled too, and then he focused back on

his sister.

“Mommy, can I read this book to her now?” the boy asked.

“Yes, of course you can, honey. Your sister would love it. Thank

you for being so sweet to her,” his mother answered.

The boy started reading a little book to his sister. Soon I heard

the girl making animal sounds. I heard sounds of pigs, horses, cows

and dogs.

The boy told his sister she did a great job and kissed her on the

cheek. The little girl clapped in response.

The boy then turned to his mother and said, “I think she’s

thirsty. Can I get her cup?”

Again, the mother said yes. The little girl took a drink and

handed it back to her brother.

The interaction between the two was in sharp contrast to some

sibling rivalry I’d seen earlier in the children’s section of the

store. Two brothers made faces and spat at each other. The mother,

who was nearby, didn’t say or do anything at all.

I stood in line to pay for my books and watched as the little boy

struggled to open the door for his mother as she pushed the stroller

outside.

I didn’t think much more about the trio until I saw them outside

by a fountain. The little boy pointed to the water, and the little

girl squealed in delight. I felt a little nudge by God to say

something, so I walked over to them.

“I’m sorry to bother you,” I said to the mother. “But I watched

your family in the book store, and the way your son treated his

sister was precious. I’d just watched another family and couldn’t get

away from them quickly enough, but I so enjoyed watching yours. I

just wanted to compliment you.”

Then I looked at the little boy and said, “I can tell that you are

a very helpful big brother.”

The boy stood up very straight. The mother smiled at her son and

at me.

“Thank you for saying something,” she said. “My husband and I pray

hard, and we work hard, and it is a lot of work, but we want our

children to behave well and to get along.”

I told her to keep up the good work, and waved to the boy and girl

as I headed on my way. I thought about how I’d almost skipped the

opportunity to encourage a hard-working mother.

Parenting is indeed hard work, so let’s all do what we can to

thank and encourage those who are tirelessly parenting the next

generation.

And you can quote me on that.

* CINDY TRANE CHRISTESON is a Newport Beach resident who speaks

frequently to parenting groups. She may be reached via e-mail at

cindy@onthegrow.com or through the mail at 537 Newport Center Drive,

Box 505, Newport Beach, CA 92660.