Lunch Time Compliments

We were sitting at the kitchen table for lunch yesterday, and I made a request,

“Riley. Tell me something good about your brother!”

Munching on a piece of apple* she said, “Well, he’s fun to play with and he does nice things.” She paused, and added,

“He’s a do-gooder.”

I don’t know where she picked up the term. You don’t really hear “do-gooder” very much anymore. And if you do, it’s usually in the pejorative sense, but she meant it absolutely sincerely. I almost fell off my chair from the love.

Seth considered this, and smiled shyly.

Next, I asked Seth to tell me something good about his sister.

“She’s nice. And she’s a good listener.”

It’s true. Seth is chatty. And he’s home all day. And mothers have many, many things to do, like check Facebook, so they aren’t always available to truly listen. Riley is much better than I at absorbing him, and being interested in all he has to say about Lego and Michael Jackson, and Chihuahuas.

One do-gooder.

One good listener.

And one mom who is head over heels for both of them.

*I  put a little cinnamon and sugar in a sandwich bag and put the apple slices in and shake it up to coat them. It’s a quick, easy, healthy-ish treat and jazzes up the apple, because let’s face it. Apples get boring. I added this just in case you care.

 

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6 Responses to Lunch Time Compliments

  1. Lydia says:

    My recent version of this is, “Quick, five things I’m grateful for from today,” when I get grumpy. Works like a charm!

  2. Carrie Link says:

    No accidents they are siblings, truly born for each other!

  3. amber says:

    This makes me smile, because I know just how you feel.

    🙂

  4. Wanda says:

    And if you bake them…you have apple pie filling! Love them both…and you, of course.

  5. Wanda, I would never bake my children.

    Happy Holidays to you!

  6. Me says:

    So sweet.

    …and I do care. I am totally trying the cinnamon and sugar on the apples!

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