How Love Raises Children

• When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you hang my drawing on the refrigerator, and I wanted to draw another one.
• When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you make my favorite cake for me, and it wasn’t even my birthday, and I knew that little things are special things.
• When you thought I wasn’t looking, I heard you say a prayer, and I believed there is a God I could always talk to.
• When you thought I wasn’t looking, I felt you kiss me goodnight, and I felt loved.
• When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw tears come from your eyes, and I learned that sometimes things hurt, but it’s all right to cry.
• When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you become very angry and stay calm and "use your words", and I learned to do that, too.
• When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you give my clothes that didn’t fit anymore to those less fortunate, and I learned to reach out to others to help.
• When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you read, just for fun, and I learned to love books and learning.
• When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you look at the night sky, and I learned to see beauty in the world around me.
• When you thought I wasn’t looking, I heard you sing as you worked, and I learned that work can bring great satisfaction.
• When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you fail, and make mistakes, and I saw you keep going your best, and I learned perseverance.
• When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw that you cared and I wanted to be everything that I could be.
• When you thought I wasn’t looking, I looked...and wanted to say thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn’t looking.