Pancakes for Breakfast

Builder Boy has merely three days left of preschool for the year.  It's hard to believe that it was eight months ago that I left him sitting in his little blue chair, pretending to look at a book with a forlorn look on his face.  I didn't even make it out the door before I was sobbing my heart out (the first of many times in his preschool room).  I felt as if I had rubbed him in raw meat and threw him into the wilderness.  We have been blessed with the two most amazing teachers, I think the two best at his school.  They are called to teach preschool.  For other teachers at his school, while they are very nice, I sense this is just a job.  (Being called to teach or teaching for the "summers off" benefit is a subject for another post...)  His teachers truly love him.  They find him amusing and imaginative.  They crack up at his superhero antics and love his large vocabulary.  They held him when he cried for much of his first few weeks and quietly and compassionately dealt with a few potty accidents.  They care about our family, too, and always take time to ask how we are and what is going on. They always have time for our questions, and they always give hugs when I break into tears, usually joyful tears.  (Folks, I'm a crier!)  I feel incredibly blessed to have found this school and only wish they served pre-K through 12th grade. 

Today, we were invited in early for a special Mother's Day song.  The children were adorable and sweet and, of course, I broke into tears.  There's something about the sound of children's voices that is so pure, so innocent, and so lovely.  I imagine this is what angels singing sounds like that. 

On the way out, I noticed a poster that the kids had made.  It was titled, "What Makes My Mom Special."  Each child had told the teacher the one thing that made their mom special.  Some said the hugs and kisses.  Others said because Mom played games or read books.  Builder Boy?  He told them because his mom makes him pancakes for breakfast. 

It's actually been awhile since we've made fun pancakes.  In the past, in order to get him interested in helping me in the kitchen, we started making colored pancakes each weekend.  Each weekend, we'd choose a different color for our pancakes.  Builder Boy likes mixing the batter and dropping in the food coloring.  Sometimes, we'd color the whole meal, eggs included.  Remodel Man is not so into the colored pancakes and eggs, but gags them down just the same.  (Dude, it's food coloring...there's no taste!)  Recently, though, for breakfast, we've been pretty boring.  No colored meals, just plain old pancakes and plain old eggs. But the fact that that memory sticks with him, that he thinks me special for that memory is achingly sweet. 

If you'll be celebrating Mother's Day this weekend, have a happy one.  If you long to celebrate Mother's Day, may you find peace this weekend and know that you are not alone.  I wish you all "pancakes for breakfast." 

Comments

[Black Belt Mama]

What a beautiful post! I fear that Lil C may tell her teacher "Mommy opens up pop-tarts for me" when she goes to school. ;-)

[Topsy-Techie]

We got a book when my oldest was in preschool that I still cherish. His teachers had lovingly written down each of the childrens best "sayings" throughout the school year and then added pictures and gave them to the parents at the end of the school year. I was touched beyond belief. Kudos on the colored pancakes...next time you make purple ones, think of me...they're my all-time fave!