Well, I often complain about my kids and wish they were this, that or the other thing, so I feel that if they do something worth praising, I should speak up and give praise where due.
Recently at school there have been incidents of bullying and teasing to the point where one little girl in Ken's class has been unable to attend school. Her mother called me 2 days ago to inform me of this and ask me whether I knew about the bullying. I asked Ken and he said that sure enough it had been going on. The teacher found it hard to believe this little girl and her mother as no-one else in the class would admit it for fear of the retaliation turning on them. So the teacher called Ken into the office to find out the truth, and Ken stood up for his friend, he told her exactly what had been happening. She then returned to the class and gave them the 'shame' talk, at which many of the children began to cry. They were then made to write 'remorse' letters to the little girl asking her to come back. The little girl went back to school today, and after school the mother rang me gushing with praise over Ken. I couldn't see the big deal at first, but she made it clear that she had asked the other mother's to get their kids to stick up for her daughter, but all of them said they didn't want their own children to be the target of the bullying and instructed their kids to keep quiet. She couldn't believe how brave Ken was and how he was able to be so honest. She said that she had put a lot of time into sending her daughter to after school cram schools and lessons and often thought we were 'lacking' as parents because we didn't value 'education' as highly as her...but now she sees that all the 'education' she has given her daughter is nothing compared to how I have brought up Ken with integrity and a pure heart. (Her words not mine!) She said she never realised how training a child's heart was so much more important than just training their minds. I must admit I was very proud of my son! The teacher has often said that he has a heart of gold and is the peace maker in the classroom. She even said she was surprised at his social maturity and ability to reason and see justice from such an early age. When I sat Ken down to tell him of the phone call I got halfway and just welled up with emotion unable to talk - I was so proud! I guess that is the moment a mother treasures. We are so proud of you Ken!
