Woops, calm down daddy O
It was my wife's 50th birthday. A big deal. She did not want much, but still, a big deal. Throughout the week, I encouraged my boys to write their mom a nice note. Something from the heart that shows they really care. Joni knows this, but it is still very nice when your kid takes time to put words to paper.
Birthday evening arrived, and none of my boys had yet to write their note. I reminded them again, emphasizing how nice it would be and how much their mother would appreciate the gesture. I was specific and asked them to put the notes on the table around the wildflowers that I had gathered and placed in a glass jar.
And then I went to bed.
Upon awakening in the am, I walked out into the dining room and looked at the table...... wildflowers with no notes. My blood pressure started rising immediately. My semi sleepy brain and body were waking quickly as a course of anger, and disappointment swirled through my veins. I thought “what the %$##, how could they not leave a note for their mother...she does so much for them and they are selfish little .......” and that’s when it happened.
I walked into the kitchen and there were the notes, sitting around another bouquet of flowers that had been picked earlier in the week. My anger quickly dissipated and was replaced by gratitude and a little guilt. If that was not enough, they also decorated the kitchen. Balloons, happy birthday signs and cray paper streams.
I was humbled by their thoughtfulness.