Monday, May 14, 2007

Mom's Day

My blog today has nothing to do with writing. It's all about Mother's Day and the brilliance of one teacher. My husband always takes the kids out to do Mom's Day shopping the day before. But this year, my youngest son's grade 1 teacher summed it up perfectly. He told the kids that moms like gifts their kids have made better than gifts they buy. I've received some absolutely gorgeous gifts from my boys over the years, both hand made and purchased, but this one took the cake this year. My son insisted we had to go for a walk down a trail because he needed to collect sticks. So I'm shaking my head and thinking "I wonder if mothers of girls get requests like this?", but away we went, and he diligently collected stickes, measuring them with his arms, making sure they were long enough, or short enough, and that they weren't too dirty or too crooked.

When we got home, he shooed me inside the house with instructions that I was NOT to come out on the back deck. The poor kid was out there for over an hour, running in occasionally to stock up on more tape. Yes, I was a little concerned, but my husband didn't seem too worried, and he had access to the activities outside. Sunday morning, I was taken by the hand outside where I was shown a stick portrait of myself. Now how adorable is this, I ask you?



We then had to find a piece of cardboard big enough to transfer it to, so I could hang it in my office. I particularly like how my legs are long and THIN. If a girl can't have her dreams come true on Mother's Day, when can she?

10 comments:

JoAnn Ross said...

Oooh! That is too, too sweet! And you even got a walk out of it, too!

Now, print out the picture and save it in an album, scrapbook, or frame and be sure to print out the story, too, which will make it special for future generations. Believe me, it's just the sort of story your someday grandbabies will enjoy hearing about their dad. My son's kids love going through the albums and often seem amazed at the idea of their father once having actually been a kid like them. They also enjoy the chance to laugh at him. *g*

I especially love that it's such a joyous portrait; you look as if you're dancing.

Laura Drewry said...

I forgot to say - last night after he'd gone to bed, I went in to the bathroom to clean up after his shower (sigh) and there, on the counter, all folded up, was the piece of paper he'd sketched it out on, and counted out how many sticks he'd need. Good thing the Kleenex box was right there. . . LOL So the sketch is going in the album, too. :)

Nancy Morse said...

Too sweet for words, Laura. But girl, you need some fattening up. Go eat a sandwich!

Gina Black said...

Oh Laura, this one brought tears to my eyes. What a great gift! What a sweet boy. Happy Mother's Day indeed!

JoAnn Ross said...

Oh, wow, he planned it out, which is way too cool for words.

An engineer's mind with an artist's soul. . . I foresee great things for this kid!!

Laura Drewry said...

LOL Nancy - if only that were the case. Sadly, in real life, the legs give evidence to ALL the white bread PBJs I've eaten over the years. :)

Sally MacKenzie said...

Love it, Laura--and hey, I think it looks just like you!

Nancy Herkness said...

Awwww, that is the sweetest gift. JoAnn's right: you have to print the photograph too so when the sticks finally disintegrate you'll still have a record of a great Mother's Day present.

Although my children didn't make my Mother's Day gifts (they're teenagers and too cool for that, I guess), they clearly thought about them and I was touched by that. My son gave me a biography of my favorite hockey goalie and my daughter gave me a new Cate Blanchett movie that just came out on DVD. I think Cate's a fabulous actress. So my children really considered my own tastes when they went shopping, a spectacular feat for a teenager.

Laura Drewry said...

And who would your favourite goalie be, Nancy? Roberto Luongo perhaps? LOL

Sally - you've seen me in person. You know my hair often does look like that!

and JoAnn - thanks to iPhoto, the prints are already on their way; one for my album and one for his. Now all I have to do is make the time to actually work on the photo albums. LOL

Nancy Herkness said...

Roberto Luongo--pah! You know it's Martin Brodeur, the greatest goalie in the world (and he's Canadian so you can be proud). ;-)