My daughter’s phonics teacher was asking all the kids, “Why do you like phonics?” My daughter replied, “Because little kids can do big things.” Her teacher said, “I love that answer. What kind of big things?” My daughter said, “Like spell big words.” (“Little kids can do big things” has since become the tag line of the phonics program.)

Then the other day we watched some Olympic skiing together and my daughter (who’s 3) was asking me (repeatedly) why a skier fell. I was saying things like, “he lost his balance, he went too far to the right, the sun is glaring in his eyes, he made a mistake.” Finally she said, “Mama. I think he didn’t do his best.”

Ok, but seriously. We always donate some coins to the local Children’s Hospital in a little collection box they have at the local supermarket. So, the other day I said to my 5 yr old. “we give them money because they took such good care of you when you were a little baby in an incubator and you needed help.” (he was a 2 lb preemie). Then he said “I remember being in the hospital”. Surprised, I said “what do you remember about it?” and he said:

“I remember you loved me mommy”.

like you said, they can make our hearts melt…. because that’s all I ever wanted him to remember.