Dear Maisy,

It seems I had this subconscious belief of children:  that children are born full of sin.  I love that the truth is quite the opposite:  children are born only into the light and strive to please the ones they love most.  Now I don’t know why I ever thought otherwise.

There are so many moments within every single day when I’m left stunned into silence with the biggest smile pasted on my face when you do something out of the pure goodness of your own heart.  The one that takes the cake, for probably a very long time, is the moment you spent your very own money for the very first time.  What did you choose to buy for your first time ever?  My birthday present.  This is the story of how we got to that proud and heart-melting moment.

A few days before my birthday, Daddy took me on my birthday fun day.  The sitter shows up and you find out Daddy and I are leaving for my birthday date.  You were devastated, “Mommy I want to come to your birthday too.”

I rapidly realized my mistake and started talking you through the details of my birthday plans and that we fully intended to celebrate my birthday day with the family, you included.  I said we would be going out for breakfast and I’d get to open my presents.  You were still sobbing so I started asking you some questions.

“What do you want to do for my birthday?

“I want to have your birthday cake.”

“Ok, awesome, that’s a great idea!  We’ll have birthday cake.”

But you were still crying.

“Would it make you feel better if you picked out your very own birthday present for me?”

Your face lit up and you stopped crying immediately.

“Yeah!”

“Well, what do you say we go shopping for my birthday present on my birthday?”

You were no longer crying and were full of excitement to be a part of my special day.

Come my birthday you decided to buy me a plant for my present so I took you to Oak Village (a greenery in town).  We walked in and I touched a white mums plant on reserve by the counter and commented on how pretty it was.  When we stepped outside you spotted a similar white mum and chose it promptly for my gift.

We made our way to the counter to buy the mums and I helped you count out four dollars.  Yup, we struck a major deal on our mums due to a sale and a discount due to minor flaw in the flowers we chose.  I also think it probably had a little something to do with the adorable three year old handing over her very own money to buy flowers for her mom’s birthday present.

This has to be my very favorite present ever.  I was given the gift of my daughter’s first purchase.  I was also given a very favorite gift, a plant.  I planted those mums in the garden in our front yard so, if the mums’ roots survive the winter, I’ll get to relive that gift and memory every summer we live in this little house.

You’re the best.

Love,

Mommy