Hearing about the good
Recently our elderly neighbor took the time to write us a note to let us know about a little interaction he’d had with our 12-year-old son. Apparently Adam crossed the street one day to greet the neighbor. It was nothing more than a “Hi Mr. Bill, how are you doing today?” But the little interaction made a big impression. And the little note that the neighbor wrote warmed my heart to the core.
Not long after that, the same parent who called to let us know about the inappropriate language several years ago, sought us out to let us know how impressed he had been by the leadership that same son had exhibited at the school’s sports day in the spring. He didn’t need to take the time to pass that thought along, but I’m so glad he did. After years of struggling with the negative, it is so nice to begin to see a silver lining.
And to top it off, we got an e-mail last week from the summer swim coach praising our younger son — who has been struggling lately over simply being nice. In the e-mail the coach said he was impressed with Jonah’s “behavior, attitude and overall character” so far this season. He said he gave up a turn to do something fun so another boy could, simply because he knew the other boy wanted to do it and he wanted to give him the opportunity. The coach ended the e-mail saying “Great job as parents!”
Those words felt pretty amazing. I’m not sure we can take much credit, but it feels so good to hear when your kids are doing something right in the world. Makes me want to pass on something positive to every parent whose kids I come in contact with from now on.
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FranklyStein is a blog by Chesapeake Family Magazine editor Betsy Stein who lives in Catonsville with her husband, Chris, and four children, Maggie, 14, Lilly, 12, Adam, 12, and Jonah, 8.
