A blue box for Mother's Day...

A few weeks ago, when I was immersed in the book Parenting with Spirit, one of the things I picked up was the idea of the celebration box. And I put that into practice right away. 2 weeks prior to Mother's Day, I told the boys (and by that I mean R and Winkie), that they were free to write nice things about me as a mother, and put it into that box, which would remain safe inside a drawer. I would, in the meantime, stay clear of it, and enjoy it in its entirety on the big day. R gave me the "look" and Winkie was excited, and there it was...

A week went by, and my resolve to stay away weakened and one day, I opened the drawer and shook the box just a little, to see if anything was inside. Nothing. No sound. Somehow, I wasn't surprised. I knew the idea wouldn't take off right away, and that evening, I approached the one person who could be influenced...and gave him a prod about the unfilled box.

A few more days went by and I had managed to stay far away from the box. But not far enough from my eagerness to see it filled. At bedtime a few nights ago, I asked Winkie again. Rather, the tone was one of complaint, and the words one of foregone conclusion. You still haven't written anything for the box yet, Winkie....I told him. But I have Amma....he replied, defending himself and my heart leapt on hearing the words. I hadn't really expected him to remember on his own. He revealed that he had put something in just that evening, when I wasn't looking. And no, I didn't bust the surprise and go looking for it the next day. I waited. Patiently.

Today, I finally opened the box. But the curiosity of what's inside, will have to wait. First comes the gift. It is especially significant because this is the first time he has done it all on his own. Its part of a school project actually, where he sowed sunflower seeds in a little pot, decoupaged in bright colours. In a few days, a little bud was peeping out of the soil. It seems, he had brought it home 4 days ago, and fortunately, it happened to be a day that R was unexpectedly working from home, for he steered Winkie away from gifting it to me right then and there, and together, they found a hiding place for it. Only, R forgot all about it after and there was no water or sunlight for the bud for the next 4 days!

Winkie told me over and over yesterday how excited he was for Mother's day. He even wore this shirt in honor of that, as it said....If you think I'm cute, you should see my Mom! He gave me a clue that the gift was green and brown. And he made me wait on a chair, whilst he ran upstairs to fetch it. But there was a delay. And I heard hurried whispering between father and son and footsteps walking up and down the hallway. Finally, he made an appearance, his hands hiding behind his back, holding something. And there was the green and brown. A cute little pot, with 2 leaves of a money plant sticking out.

The explanation followed quickly. It seems the sunflower shoot had just wilted. And here is the conversation that followed between them...

Winkie : Oh nooooooo....his face looking crushed.

R, was stricken. And guilty. He had forgotten all about watering the plant. Just give her the little pot, Winkie...it looks so nice.

Winkie : Noooooo. How can I give her just the pot..it will not look nice.

R : Ok, let's do this. And thus saying, he plucked out 2 leaves from our money plant and inserted it carefully into the soil.

Winkie : Okayyy...trying to put his chin up.

And that was the state of thing when I received my gift. To me, this story was the best part! I love little imperfections in a gift, because it is what lends it the most character. I loved the happy start from a little boy in his school, the days of quiet anticipation, not a word or a murmur escaping his mouth, the moment finally arriving on that Sunday morning, just after the morning tea when everybody was relaxed and laidback, the spring in the feet, as he rushes to get it, the discovery of the unexpected climax due to adult oversight, that crushing disappointment, that must have been almost too much for a little waiting heart to bear, the quick problem solving by an alert mind, the hurried adjustment made, and the happy ending of a little boy, beaming with a little plant in a pot in his hand, anxious to catch the delight in his mother's eyes.

Well, he got all of that and so much more, for I was just soo.. happy. I think one of the most beautiful gifts, apart from pricey inanimate objects :), is a living, breathing thing, which has a potential to grow into something beautiful. The plant where from the 2 leaves were plucked and hastily inserted into the soil, had had a similar beginning itself. It began from the shoot of 2 leaves, and today, it flowers out in every direction, and trails liberally to the ground, near our ever-meditating Buddha. And this little plant has that very same legacy to fulfil. And I have a feeling it will.

Which now, brings me back to the box. I set the plant aside and Winkie brought me the blue Ghirardelli box. There were 2 little chits of paper inside, and in both of them, he had wished me, and written about the surprise plant. They read like letters and didn't carry the original intent which I had in mind, which was to highlight my role as a mother, but I think that is something we will get with more practice. For now, I am extremely grateful that my son remembered to put something in there for me. And that, as usual, he addressed it on behalf of his brother as well. I am not disappointed that R did not think to put something in there. It is just as well, for it indicates that I have lots to better within myself, and when my own sense of self satisfaction is complete, his appreciation will also be forthcoming, in the exact way in which I seek it. Till then, I will learn to open my eyes to the ways in which he does express himself....like the amount of research he did on cellphones so I could get an upgrade, how he helped me choose the one that I would enjoy the most, that he got over his infamous inertia and ordered it on time, and that it got delivered in 2 unexpected days, and had me whooping with glee like a little kid!

All is good and I had a day, that I care to remember very fondly!