Left to Their Own Devices

On Wednesday, as I brought my kids home from school/sitter, they were in cahoots about something. Big whispers in the back seat followed by them locking themselves in the toy room to create "a surprise."

I'm typically nervous about closed-door surprises from my munchkins (now 6 and 3 1/2 yrs), but I decided to let them be totally undisturbed for about an hour. There were occasional squabbles, but they worked them out on their own. I made dinner in peace. It was lovely.

Just as I was calling for them to wash up, they produced a brown paper gift bag, decorated and tied with a gold ribbon. The girls were grinning from ear to ear and on the verge of explosion if I didn't open it NOW.

Inside there were two Christmas cards. My older daughter's sweet poinsettia card said, "taks for wrking and taking care of us! Jasmine" and her little sister's Santa card was already printed with, "he's making a list... Hope all your dreams and wishes are fulfilled!" and then, "thangx for wrking Mom" in Jasmine's pen. At the end, my 3 1/2 year old magnificently wrote her own name.

I welled up. They have no idea how much these two cards meant to me. Their timing was impeccable. Their intentions, totally unprovoked.

Tell me, when was the last time you were genuinely and spontaneously appreciated?