The Simple Things like Cookies

One of the best things about being a mom is that you get to learn how the world works through a child’s eyes and hands. It outweighs all the sleepless nights (16 months and still not sleeping through the night, by the way… just saying!), all the messes, the tears and tantrums.

One of my favorite things to do is read to Sophia. It is an incredibly peaceful time at the end of a long day where we both settle in and immerse ourselves in a series of magical worlds. I must say, that nothing has really changed and I still prefer books with pictures 🙂 and thankfully, so does she. Some books, like the Dr. Seuss series are fun and lighthearted and I can see Sophia tracing the various characters with her little finger. But then, there are those books that seem fun for her and are just magical for me. The Duckling Gets a Cookie is one of those books that she is starting to really enjoy and I can’t get enough of.

The book, a gift from Sophia’s thoughtful aunt (my sister), is about a duckling who gets a cookie by asking for one and then tells a birdie how he acquired such a delicious cookie. The duckling ends up sharing the cookie with the birdie because it has nuts in it, and the duckling apparently doesn’t like nuts. The plot seems simple, but it teaches an incredibly important lesson: asking for something politely will almost always guarantee success.

We are still working on our courtesy words and their utilization, but reading the book this past few evenings has made me think about my life and reminded me that being polite, courteous and patient always pays off. Furthermore, it never hurts to admit that you cannot have something you want, that others may be better at something and that you need help. It is a mantra I repeat to myself often: don’t be too proud to admit that you need help.