"Making You Proud"

Caida,

So, a couple of weekends ago your mom decided she wanted to deep clean the whole apartment--it hadn't really been cleaned, just straightened up, since you both moved in there in March.  You had JUST finally played with toys all by yourself in your own room, and, judging by the mess, you had a GREAT time!  Well, she silently decided she'd save your room for last and got to work on the dishes.  But you weren't out watching TV or bugging her about wanting something to do, so she decided to check up on you in your room.

She asked, "What are you doing in here?"
You replied, "Making you proud of me!  I'm cleaning my room!"

And you were--all by yourself, without even being asked.  Your mom WAS so proud of you.  She was even prouder when you helped with the rest of the house, too, without complaint--you helped scrub the tub, fold laundry, and I don't remember what else but you were just so GROWN UP that day.  You have these incredible moments every once in a while where you seem so much older than seven years old, and it catches us by surprise because your epilepsy has made you a little developmentally behind (only a little) so we never really know where you are at or what is sinking in.  But you ARE growing up, so much faster than I remember growing up myself.  I wish I could bottle these moments and keep them to show you in the future how GOOD you really are.  You are so easy going, so VIBRANT and full of life, and SO eager to do the right thing and please the people you love.  Some people think people-pleasing is a bad thing, but it's really not.  It's good to do what makes YOU happy, but loving and serving others and considering their happiness before your own is really what this life is ultimately all about.  And you are already a PRO.

Thanks for always being my teacher in so many things!

Aunt Celeste