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.
