My daughter stayed on campus with me today. I teach at 9am and 11am, and she spent that time in my office watching cartoons.
Between 10am and 11am, we took a trip to the local donut shop. The proprietor asked us what we were up to this weekend. I mentioned that it was my daughter’s birthday on Monday and that we would be partying down. My daughter hid behind me and softly said thank you when the proprietor told her happy birthday. Because the donuts were made fresh, we perched ourselves in two chairs and talked about the morning. She told me what she had learned from “Hero Elementary,” her chosen cartoon for the morning.
When the donuts came out, the co-owner had a surprise: a plate with “HAPPY BIRTHDAY” written in script with chocolate sauce as well as a cupcake marshmallow with a birthday candle on it.
“Happy Birthday, princess!” she told my daughter.
When my daughter is with me, I get looks and remarks from people that are full of grace. They don’t know my daughter. She certainly has doesn’t done anything to deserve the goodwill she receives. But she gets it.
Later, as we were eating the donuts (they were delicious), my daughter praised me. I knew that the praise was undeserved. I hadn’t done anything. Neither had she. That’s why the gift we received–her chocolate birthday wish, my time with my daughter as she received that gift–was so precious.
Learning Together 