Last night at dinner, we were all sitting around laughing and bickering and talking about our days, when our youngest daughter Cozette (8) told us that she shared five personal things with her class (as part of a way for students to get to know each other). We asked to see the five things she shared, and so she got up and retrieved a paper sack. Inside of the sack were the kinds of things you’d expect: a sentimental stuffed animal, a picture of one of her dogs, a lucky button. But then she reached in and pulled out a ziplock bag containing probably a hundred little folded up pieces of paper. I recognized them immediately as notes that my wife, Tina, had sometimes included with the girls’ lunch.
Cozette reached into the ziplock and grabbed a handful of the notes. Colorful, Post-It sized notes spilled onto the dinner table. Some of the notes had little stickers of animals or symbols of holidays. All of them had personal messages like, “Be confident,” and “I’ll be thinking of you today,” and “Smile because you’re beautiful.” I had no idea that Tina had done this daily. But she had. For years. And Cozette kept hers, all of them, in a box in the top drawer of her dresser. I was floored. I looked over at Tina and she was blushing. Until now, this had been something exclusive between her and the girls. But after learning about it, I wasn’t really surprised. I’ve always said that my wife is the nicest person I’ve ever known.
I often think that raising our beautiful, compassionate, stubborn and fiery daughter Cozette must be what it was like to raise Tina. They’re so similar in so many ways. It’s a very cool thing to watch their relationship evolve. Although I have to admit – sometimes, when they are both upset at each other, I just duck and get out of their way.
Last night during dinner I was lucky enough to experience of one of those moments that you know you’ll never forget. Everything kind of just slowed way down as I was able to peek inside of a special relationship between my daughter and my wife. And it was beautiful.
***
Carl Thress
Sep 2, 2011
Thanks for sharing that special moment with the rest of us, Jim. What a wonderful gift from a mother to her daughter. It reminds me just how special a relationship my own wife shares with our boys.
Dan Perez
Sep 4, 2011
Jim,
From the father of a beautiful, compassionate, stubborn and fiery 13 year-old daughter, I know exactly what you mean. Nuff said.
Nicely done.
karen
Sep 4, 2011
Wasn’t going to comment until I saw your tweet that “Single people, couples without kids and folks in bad marriages won’t like this post” – To the contrary. As a survivor of a bad marriage, I felt reassured and inspired! Your post made me want to hug everyone I know. 🙂 Thank you.
Jim Mitchem
Sep 4, 2011
I’m an idiot. I just naturally assumed that because the subject matter was so personal, I didn’t think people who couldn’t directly identity – would. Thank you.
Meg
Sep 5, 2011
I was and am a hybrid of my parents, but when push came to shove as a kid, I was a small version of my mom. Now I’m about to get married to a great guy with a fantastic 13 year old son… who is a tiny him, absolutely. Now I know how my dad felt, and I love it. 🙂
shelly kramer
Sep 10, 2011
I red this comment and knew immediately who left it. And you are a large version of perfect today, Meg.
Tamela Rich
Sep 5, 2011
Jim,
Thanks for sharing this intimate slice of life. I’m inspired. Inspired to be a better grandmother than the mother I was…am.
Jeri Leach
Sep 5, 2011
I love this! I still send notes to my boys at college – cards, poems, message of advice, accompanied by chocolate chip muffins. And I still have all their little love notes to me.
Anne McColl
Sep 8, 2011
This was, simply lovely.
shelly kramer
Sep 10, 2011
Love, love, love this, Jim.
I really didn’t know my Dad until I was about 17. And every morning he left notes like this outside my bedroom door, where I would discover them before I left for school. They are one of my most treasured life moments, and this post reminded me of them – all over again.
xo
Shelly
@shellykramer
Danielle Smith
Sep 11, 2011
This is divine. I do this with my small people. My daughter can read them and keeps them too…. my son (just 5) is ‘guessing’ at the messages which, is honestly, just as sweet. You have inspired me to make sure I continue to do it. Thank you.
Mary Valdez Jordan
Sep 24, 2011
I LOVE THIS STORY……I think that’s it’s a reminder that the seemingly “little things” make a HUGE impact!
My novel – Minor King
Recent Posts
Copyright © Jim Mitchem. Hosted by Command Partners.