Just a pat on the head
Today as I was attending morning mass in CHIJ, I saw a friend walk all the way across the hall after receiving communion. No, he didn't forget where he was sitting. He was just taking a long journey back to his chair, in order to walk past his little Primary 1 daughter.
He didn't say anything to her as he walked by. He just reached down and patted her head - messing up her hair as he did it.
I watched her as he walked off and saw this gleaming grin growing upon her face. It was an internal smile that was filled with a knowledge that her father thought it was important enough to walk in front of all of her friends and teachers to acknowledge her presence and ruffle her locks.
That smile stayed on her face for a long time. I bet she thought nobody was watching her, or knew how she felt inside. It was like a secret that you keep inside, giving you an unknowable joy.
Our children yearn for our attention. Many times, it isn't the expensive presents, games or holiday trips. They just want us to tap their heads, pat their shoulders or hold their hands. A little acknowledgement can go a long way - it can make their day and stick in their memories for a lifetime. Years from now, they will still remember the day that daddy took the long walk over to say Hi to me, all without uttering a word.
He didn't say anything to her as he walked by. He just reached down and patted her head - messing up her hair as he did it.
I watched her as he walked off and saw this gleaming grin growing upon her face. It was an internal smile that was filled with a knowledge that her father thought it was important enough to walk in front of all of her friends and teachers to acknowledge her presence and ruffle her locks.
That smile stayed on her face for a long time. I bet she thought nobody was watching her, or knew how she felt inside. It was like a secret that you keep inside, giving you an unknowable joy.
Our children yearn for our attention. Many times, it isn't the expensive presents, games or holiday trips. They just want us to tap their heads, pat their shoulders or hold their hands. A little acknowledgement can go a long way - it can make their day and stick in their memories for a lifetime. Years from now, they will still remember the day that daddy took the long walk over to say Hi to me, all without uttering a word.