Oh no, I groan inwardly as I slide into my seat on the crowded Southwest Airlines plane. The only remaining isle seat is not just at the very back of the plane. It’s also next to a woman sitting next to her preschool son.
Her loud preschool son.
This is going to be the longest hour-and-twenty-minutes of my life, I gloomily predict.
I am wrong.
As time literally flies by, I am first amazed, then awed, and finally deeply moved by the vibrant relationship I witness beside me.
After we land, I wrack my brain for a way to tell this young mother what an amazing job she’s doing. The best I can think of is, “You’re a great mom!” which I keep to myself because it seems so cheesy. Not until I’m in the shuttle, heading to my car, does it hit me. I wish I’d said,
“Ma’am, I know you don’t know me, but on behalf of your son’s future teachers, I want to say, ‘Thank You!’ for what an amazing mother you are to him. He is so blessed to have you as his mom!”
Now I’ve spent plenty of time in airports and planes, but never before have I had such an urge to compliment a parent. Most of the time, in fact, it’s just the opposite. I sympathize but am ultimately annoyed by all the whining, demanding, and yelling (and their kids’ behavior is even worse!)
What impresses me so much about Patrick’s mom?
1. She listens to every word he says and reflects back his key concepts to demonstrate that she’s truly heard him.
“The red crabs, they hated me. But the blue crabs, they loved me!”
“So red crabs don’t like you but blue ones do.”
“Yeah.”
2. She doesn’t answer his (hundreds of!) questions immediately; rather, she encourages him to spend time thinking for himself.
“Patrick, you have to keep the tray table up. They just told us, and we have to follow the rule.”
“Why do we have to keep it up?”
“That’s a great question. Why do you think we need to keep it up?”
3. She predicts a positive outcome.
(Before the flight starts) “I’m going to tell Daddy how cooperative and helpful you were on this flight.”
(As we land, to the woman in front of him) “My Mama is going to tell my Daddy how cooperative and helpful I was!”
What inspires me the most is how Patrick’s mom demonstrates such respect for her little guy (who, I am informed – at full volume – is a “big boy” who will turn five in July!) She so clearly enjoys him, evidenced by plenty of chuckles and outright laughter, in spite of her understandable fatigue.
How might a casual observer notice your respect for and enjoyment of your child?
- Ch…ch…ch…CHANGES Are Coming in 2017 for TMI - December 27, 2016
- What New Thing Are You Ready to See God Do in Your Life in 2017? - December 26, 2016
- Heaviness and Newness - December 23, 2016
