What Makes a Parent Proud

Last night we were mucking around having fun and Macie bit me on the collar bone. I was very angry and pushed her off of me and walked out to the lounge room. Macie came into the lounge room with the saddest look on her face. I almost cried but had to stay strong as she had done the wrong thing. With her down turned mouth she said to me "Do wee's on toilet?" I said "You are ready for bed and have a nappy on, go away." Heart broken she walked off and asked Dave "Do wee's on toilet?" Dave gave her the same answer I had given her. She then came and sat beside me very quietly, not even looking at me.
After what seemed like an hour I asked her if she knew what she had done wrong. She said that she had bitten me and that it was naughty. I gave her a big hug and all was forgiven. It was only once she had gone to bed that I realised why she was asking to go to the toilet. Because she knows how proud I am of her when she goes to the toilet and she wanted to make me proud of her again.

Crazy how a young mind works. That got me thinking about my parents and what are they proud of me for. I am sure there are oodles of things that are proud of. I know that whenever my mum writes an editorial or application letter she gets me to proof it. Does this mean she is proud of my writing ability? I know that if mum has a computer problem she asks me how to fix it. Does that mean she is proud of my tech knowledge. I know that she loves me and my beautiful family unconditionally. Does that mean she is proud of my personal accomplishments?

One thing I know for sure is that my mum and dad are proud of the woman I am becoming and the work that is going in to my transformation. How do I know this? Because on their recent visit they told me. We know we are doing the right thing but to be told by your parents that they are proud of you, that just makes your heart sing and puts a spring in your step.

So, tell your kids how proud you are of them. What a difference it makes to their world.