I was off to go back to work one evening and my two
children were busy sewing things on the sewing
machine. My eleven year old daughter was, in the midst
of her project, going to assist her older brother in
making a little cushion. I left, and in a few hours
returned to find a mess in the kitchen, front room,
and both children sitting in front of the television.
Having had a long day, I was very short with my
greeting to them and then I noticed the material my
daughter had used. It had been purchased to make a
color coordinated baby blanket, and now had chunks cut
out of almost every piece of fabric. Not stopping to
listen, I exploded at the children and explained how
angry I was at what had been done.
My daughter listened to me sheepishly, not trying to
defend herself at all, but the pain could be seen written
across her face. She retreated to her room quietly,
and spent some time in there alone before she came out
to say good night and once again apologize for the
mistake she had made.
A few hours later, as I was preparing to go to bed,
there on my bed lay a beautiful, litlle cushion made
out of the forbidden fabric, with the words "I LOVE
MOM" . Along side it was a note apologizing again, and
the innocence in which she had taken the fabric.
To this day, I still get tears in my eyes when I think
of how I reacted and still feel the pain of my
actions. It was I who then sheepishly went to her and
apologized profusely for my actions. I display with
great pride the cushion on my bed, and use it as a
constant reminder that nothing in this world is
greater than a child's love.
