Chica’s School Character Award

So...a few days ago, at school pick-up, Chica’s teacher rushed over to my car to deliver the news (before the girlies made it to the car) that Chica was receiving a character award during this quarter’s school assembly.

It goes without saying that I’m beyond proud of my girl and her stellar heart and kind behavior.

But I’m also beyond relieved that I reworked our morning schedule to manage to get Little Man and I inside the school for the assembly this morning. Because this felt like a bigger honor than I realized, and lots of parents were there to mark the occasion in support of their kiddos.

It was said that this award is given to one student per class, each nine weeks, in honor of someone who most exemplifies positive character traits and the 8 habits (not clear on those, but I’m sure they’re, well...positive, ha). Apparently, the recipient is selected by the teacher and the students, and it’s meant to be a surprise for the honoree.

I’m not gonna lie...I got a little emotional throughout the assembly (and later in the day) thinking about my girl and this distinction.

As parents, we take the brunt of our kiddos’ tantrums and moods swings and poor behavior and poorer choices, and sibling fighting and, really, just the whole spectrum of everything they can throw at us.

And it should be a compliment, really, because they feel comfortable enough to fling all of that our way and know that we will still love them like crazy.

But days like these are the best kind of affirmation that something we are doing is helping to create kind and good humans beings.

And that’s all I could ever ask for. :)

Just a final little note of praise for my girl, and then I promise I’ll stop...

I have been absolutely melted by Chica’s strong friendship this year with a little classmate with special needs.

From the very early days of the school year, she’s spoken about this little friend with such interest and delight, and it’s been reported to me on many, many occasions now, what a great help Chica has been to this child.

But above all else, I adore that it was weeks into the school year before Chica articulated that there was anything different about her friend. And that sentiment was echoed today in a very moving e-mail Chica’s teacher sent to me, praising Chica’s interactions with this friend as such a blessing because of their normalcy.

They are, quite simply, just school friends.

They play, they laugh, Chica helps, but does not baby, and it honestly just astonishes me, the openness and kindness of my beautiful girl’s soul.

All my babies were born with such beautiful, beautiful hearts that it terrifies me to see them age, because I want to keep them this accepting and unscathed and happy and gracious, all their lives.

But if they’ve made it this far, with such beauty and joy in their growing minds and hearts, I have to believe they will be able to hold onto that as they age.

What a wonderful day to be reminded of the beauty of a person inside during this holiday season. 

I’m one blessed Mama, that’s for sure.

P.S. I can’t close this out without a pic of Chicklet, since she was back in her classroom by the time the above pics were taken! And she had a banner day today, as well—losing a tooth on the bottom! Woohoo!

We’ve got elves and fairies all over this house, these days! Ha.

Happy Freaking Weekend, m’peeps!

SO ready for this one!

Over and out.