I can be so lame. Which reminds me.
One son brought something to my attention last night. I'd made the boeuf bourguignon and I said as we were eating that it tasted just like plain old beef stew. He looked at me and told me that I have this habit of demeaning myself after I've done something out of the ordinary, putting it in an ordinary class. Or something to that effect. Made me get tears in my eyes, not at him speaking so frankly (as is his habit), but for this being something he'd noticed. After skipping a beat I told him I didn't get much encouragement growing up. True, but not something I dwell on. I cope with that fact by shoving what might be an accomplishment under the pseudo rug, figuring it doesn't bear noticing.
And not to beat my parents over the head, but it's so easy to just not think about complimenting or lifting up another person. Often it just doesn't occur to us. And some folks think we don't need to be too self-absorbed so we've gone too much the other way.
Not whining, but thinking how important it is to encourage our own kids. Another son says he gets such a kick out of being praised. We all need that.
That words of affirmation thing that folks talk about---yeah, I think I need that more than I can say.
(a gift of flowers, but not recently....the latest ones from oldest daughter i forgot to photograph!)
