Maybe I did something right

One morning around the middle of August I wandered into the kitchen to push ‘bold’ and start my coffee maker. As I awaited the warm, dark roast I instinctively opened the dishwasher to begin unloading the now clean dishes from last night’s dinner. Shockingly, it had already been emptied. I immediately broke into a smile.

Who was the little elf who had performed this task without being asked?

Then I went to the fridge to pull out the half-and-half and noticed a glass container full of freshly cut-up cantaloupe. Hmm, isn’t that nice, I thought as I glanced at the counter and noticed the melon I’d just bought at the store was in fact missing.

As I grabbed a fork and started eating the cool, sweet cubes I looked outside to the hummingbird feeder on the deck. Four tiny birds were flying with abandon, circling the feeder for their moment to sit on the perch and take a slurp. And then I realized that the homemade sugar water that had been nearly empty yesterday was now miraculously filled to the top.

I immediately knew it wasn’t an Elf on a Shelf that had emerged to offer a helping hand. All this help came courtesy of the only other person besides me who was up before 7 a.m. on a weekday -- my 21-year-old son, Hayden, who had already left the house for his marketing internship.

When the kids were younger, I often told them that the best help is help that you don’t have to ask for. If you see something that needs to be done- trash that needs to be taken out, laundry that needs to be folded, or a countertop with food decorating it; don’t walk away and pretend you don’t see it. Dive in and help.

I only have a couple of days before my son leaves for his final year in college and he officially launches into the real world. His thoughtful actions early this morning made me realize, maybe I did something right as a mom.

All moms want their kids to be happy, healthy and successful enough that they can support themselves and live independently. But on my mom wish list, I also wanted to raise kind, considerate, respectful human beings. The type of person who will open doors for strangers, smile at someone who they sense needs a boost, or recognize that it takes time and energy to keep a house running smoothly, and step in to help.

Whenever I’m lucky enough to have Hayden and his sister Kylie home from school, we enjoy making dinners together, laughing and chatting throughout. And then afterwards we clean up the kitchen together. Their willingness to help fills me up. I know they appreciate me, all that I do for them, and having the opportunity to simply be together.

I know I haven’t always been a perfect mom. And yet, I’m sending two young adults, who also happen to be really good humans into the world, who will someday make great partners and parents themselves if that’s what they want.

No matter what, I’m grateful that I get to experience first-hand the thoughtfulness I’ve instilled in them.