How proud can a Mother be.

I am a very proud mum. I believe I have a very special, precious boy, as I am sure alot of mums do. But today is just one of those extra special days when as a mum I feel very proud of my son's maturity, generousity and consideration for others.

Today after church we were invited to a friends place for the first time to have lunch with them. I do get a little nervous going to people's places for the first time, wondering whether Tyler may show some of his not-so-nice manners (like certain noises that you really don't want to hear at the table). Luckily my insecurities don't rub off on to him and I needed have worried. He displayed exceptional behaviour, manners and confidence.

During the course of lunch our friends were asking Tyler about school next year and about his reading etc. He wanted to show them how he could read but they didn't have any children's books there at the moment. So he picked up the tomato sauce bottle and proceeded to read it: "made from sun ripe tomatoes", "delicious traditional flavour". The only word he stumbled on was traditional. We were all very impressed. Then he asked me to spell some words backwards and when I did he said the word straight away. Words like RATS, DOG,RELYT, POTS. Then we did some sums like: 8+11 and 4+4 and 8+0. He said the answers very quickly and all correct.

Although I believe Tyler is very clever and I am proud of his academic accomplishments, the reason that I am so proud of him is yet to unfold in this day.

After lunch he went with our friends to the markets while I went back home. That alone was an achievement as its the first time he has been anywhere with these friends with out me. He is very choosy who he will go with. While he was there he saw a man drop a whole lot of tools. Immediately he went over and helped the man pick them up saying "its ok, I will get it for you". He wasn't asked to do this by anyone - he just saw the man drop things and wanted to help him. That makes a mother very proud. The man in turn gave him $2 for being so thoughful and kind and helping him, so he could buy himself an ice-cream.
Still at the markets, they saw Santa, which he later told me it wasn't the real one, only a "dress up one". He was a little nervous when the approached Santa and held on to Amy's hand quite tight. But he did speak to him. He told Santa his name and when asked what he would like for christmas he said he didn't really know. But then he proceeded to tell Santa how we are "buying Nan and Pop a goat but they don't get the goat - it goes to people in another country who don't have any food or mummys and daddys and live in the street". and Santa thought that was a very good present.

The above relates to a TEAR organisation where you purchase such things as clean water, tree seedlings, mosquito nets, a goat etc for you family for xmas and the goods you purchase go to much needy people overseas and you get a card to tell you family what you have purchased on their behalf, where it goes to etc.

He is really taking on board helping others. I have many a conversation with him lately explaining that not all boys and girls are lucky like him. Some don't have parents, or toys, or nice beds to sleep in and he seems to be understanding, as much as he can and this age.