Initiative

The boy's school has been giving a F.I.T. award at chapel this year. I have no idea what the 'T' stands for, but the 'F' is friendship and the 'I' is initiative. Daniel and Sammy have somehow mastered the friendship aspect of their relationship, and are each other's best friend (whether they know it or not). Initiative is not a word that either knew the definition of before this year, though. Since they both are very much into getting awards and prizes, they have been motivated to figure out this initiative thing. Whenever Sammy clears his plate without being asked you are invariably about to hear, 'Mama, I used initiative!'. It's cute, and better yet, it encourages the boys to do things on their own without prompting. A win/win for us.

As a parent it is the little things that make my day, and this morning, after I brushed his teeth, Sammy came back into his room after rinsing his mouth, tracked down his toothbrush, took it to the bathroom, rinsed it out and put it away. All on his own. I never asked, never hinted. I was so happy. There I was brushing Daniel's teeth and all I wanted to do was give Sammy a great big hug. My little boy is becoming a productive member of our family. Of course, when Daniel heard all the praise I was offering to Sammy for his initiative he grabbed his toothbrush and took care of it as well.

Initiative, it is sweeping the nation! Join in and you too will have a chance to win the F.I.T. award.

P.s. Despite their best efforts, neither boy has won the award yet. I think they are getting punished somehow because their mom is the PTO co-president and their father is the School Board President. I demand a recount!