When you thought I wasn’t looking

Here is something that has been living in my desk for a few years. Each time I go to purge, I read it and find myself encouraged and heartened and I can’t throw it out, and it goes to live once more in the unorganized recesses next to vaccination records and old photos.

It occurred to me that other mamas with young children might also find it gives them strength for the task, and that I should share it.. It really is true that “the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.” Tomorrow’s world, but that’s where we’re all trying to get, isn’t it?

At any rate, now I can purge the paper copy, and I’ll always know where to find it. There’s no byline on my copy, but a little googling turned up a name, Mary Rita Schilke Korzan, to credit. I hope that is correct.

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When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately wanted to paint another one.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you feed a stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you make my favorite cake for me and I learned that the little things can be the special things in life.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I heard you say a prayer, and I knew there is a God I could always talk to and I learned to trust in God.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I learned that we all have to help take care of each other.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you give of your time and money to help people who had nothing, and I learned that those who have something should give to those who don’t.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I felt you kiss me goodnight and I felt loved and safe.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you saw you take care of our house and everything in it and I learned we have to take care of what we are given.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw how you handled your responsibilities, even when you didn’t feel good and, I learned that I would have to be responsible when I grown up.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw tears come from your eyes, and I learned that sometimes things hurt, but it’s all right to cry.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw that you cared and I wanted to everything that I could be.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I learned most of life’s lessons that I need to know to be a good and productive person when I grown up.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I looked at you and wanted to say, “Thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn’t looking.”