The Day I Was Saved by the Words, 'They Are Growing Up Just Fine'

When I went to pick up my child at daycare, a teacher I hadn't spoken to much stopped me.

"Excuse me, could I have a moment, [Child's Name]'s mom?"

At that moment, my heart skipped a beat.
My child is quite a handful.
They get into fights with the boys almost every day, and sometimes they even get physical, so
honestly, I thought they had done something wrong.


But what the teacher told me was completely unexpected.

"Today, while I was cleaning the restroom, [Child's Name] came up to me and asked, 'That looks hard. Do you want some help?' I've never had a child say that to me before... I was so happy, I almost cried."

Even though I didn't usually interact much with that teacher, they had gone out of their way to stop me just to share that with me.

Parenting is a series of uncertainties.

Actually, I had been worried for a long time.
Even though I knew that being overly energetic wasn't a bad thing,
I was always on edge because of how rambunctious they were.
Hearing stories about them constantly clashing with friends made me wonder, "Is this okay?"

"I want them to grow up to be a kind person."
That is what I have wished for while raising them, but
there were times I wasn't sure if that was actually getting through.


Hearing the teacher's story today made me realize that, oh, they really are growing up well.

In their own way, my child
has a heart that cares for others.
The fact that they were able to turn that into action made me happier than anything else.

When we got home, I gave them a gentle hug.
I told them, "You noticed, didn't you? That was so kind."

Summary

There is no single right answer to parenting.
I worry every day, and I make mistakes.

But I think it's because of days like this that I can keep going.
"They are growing up just fine."
Those words gently supported my heart.