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May 8, 2007
Mamasaysom Writing Assignment: My Child
The assignment this week on Mamasaysom is to “watch your kid(s) for a day or two, pay attention to little details and habits that you find particularly endearing or humorous” then write about those observations. At first, I misunderstood the assignment and wrote about a recent experience with my oldest son Spencer when he returned from a cultural exchange program in Nicaragua. This misunderstanding seemed particularly humorous to me. How many times do I say to my children “Read the instructions carefully.” OR “What do the instructions say?”
Now that I understand the assignment, I realize I still can’t follow-the directions to the letter.
My twelve-year-old son left yesterday for a five-day bicycling trip on Lopez Island in the San Juans. But if he were here, I would probably tell you that he has an adorable dimple that he inherited from his grandfather and his aunt, that he plays classical piano extraordinarily well though he’s the last to admit it. I’d also tell you that he sports the most beautiful smile when he feels good about himself, or he might just as easily say “Mommy, I feel sad and I don’t know why.”
So observe your other son, you might say. Well, he’s seventeen (need I say more). He’s not home long enough for me to observe anything other than the trail of dirty laundry.
If he were home today, I might watch him in awe as he created a gourmet meal from whatever was left in the refrigerator. If he were home, I’d enjoy the hugs he still loves to give me. If he were home, I’d get a charge out of the ease in which he socializes with both young children and the elderly.
But he’s not home. He drove the carpool to school today. Later he’ll do homework, teach a saxophone lesson, then watch his girlfriend play softball. Tomorrow he’ll play ultimate Frisbee after school with his best friends. Friday and Saturday, he works at the finest restaurant on Bainbridge Island, a job he adores. At three a.m. Sunday morning, he leaves for a ten day white water river rafting trip.
Perhaps I can’t observe my children in person today, tomorrow or even the next day. But Mamasaysom’s writing assignment gave me opportunity to observe in my own mind just how wonderful my children are.
One last note: Today, May 8, is Childhood Depression Awareness Day. Please remember that not all children exhibit a cheerful personality or a willfulness that is endearing. Not every word they utter is “cute”, “sweet”, or “precocious.”
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) “Clinical depression goes beyond sadness. It's more than having a bad day or coping with a major loss such as the death of a parent, grandparent, or even a favorite pet. It's also not a personal weakness or a character flaw. Youth suffering from clinical depression cannot simply snap out of it." For more information about Childhood Depression, visit NAMI.
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