I Must Have Done Something Right

Like most parents, I worry about whether I’m raising my daughters to be the best people possible.  I know I tell them the right things, but do I model the right behavior?  It’s a question that has plagued me for almost 12 years now – since my oldest daughter was born.  A few years ago, I got the message that I must being doing something right.

It was a hot day in Indiana – when I say hot, I mean we get all of the heat and humidity of the Caribbean without the great benefits like the ocean.  My daughter heard the ice cream truck around the block and ran in to get some money.  I gave her a couple of dollars and she ran out to get her ice cream.  A few minutes later, my doorbell rang.  The guy from across the street was at my door.  He told me that he gave my daughter some money for ice cream because he 35076_10150221313995084_3148582_nwatched her give her money away.  Apparently, all of the kids on the street had been able to get money for ice cream except one little boy.  My daughter saw this and gave him her money to get an ice cream.  She didn’t ask me for more – she just gave him her money.  My neighbor saw this happen and bought her an ice cream as well.  I offered to pay him back, but he just wanted to let me know what she did because it was such an act of kindness.

It’s been a while since that day, but I hold onto it dearly. If I ever begin doubting whether or not I’m doing the right thing by my children, I just look at her and know that, with a heart like hers, I must be doing something right.