So I entered a contest....

It's hard for me to post this knowing that Mark is going to read it! :) I am not that great of a writer (although I really love to write), but I clicked on my friend Veeda's blog and saw this:

Have you heard about the Mother's Day writing competition? You can win a trip to New York to be on The Early Show on CBS. Meet Mitch Albom, author of Tuesdays with Morrie and The Five People You Meet in Heaven. Oh, and there's also a cruise prize involved.

I read her very inspiring story which brought to mind an inspiring experience from my youth and made me want to write an inspiring story of my own. Now, I don't know if it will inspire any of you, but I thought that since I shared it with people I don't know on some web site for a competition, I could also share it with my friends and family.

Only leave your comments if they're nice... :)

Our Little Secret...a time my mom stood up for me in an unexpected way

I came home from school in a flurry of excitement. I threw open the the front door of our little 3 bedroom house that always seemed so big to my little 8-year-old eyes and went looking for my mom. I was always excited to come home and tell her everything about my day at school. And she was always there to listen.

I was in the third grade and I loved school! I didn't love to do the work or learn new things - you know, the school part - nearly as much as I loved recess and talking. Almost every report card came home with good grades and a note on the side from my teacher, "Talks a little too much" or "Needs to talk less".

I was a "Chatty Cathy" and I loved my friends. My mom had taught me to be kind to everyone, so I felt like everyone I met was - or wanted to be - my friend. And so it was that everyone in the 3rd grade loved me and I loved them. I was happy to live in this oblivious world. I never knew that kids could be mean or cruel; it never occurred to me to treat anyone that way and I was certainly never treated that way by anyone else.

On this particular day after school I made an announcement to my mom, "Mom, I am the most popular girl in the third grade!" I knew that it was true. Everyone wanted to sit by me, every boy wanted to chase me at recess, every boy who didn't take to chasing me came instead to my rescue. My wise mother who didn't want to squash my self-confidence, who knew that I would repeat this announcement if she agreed with me, who did not want others to laugh or treat me unkindly for saying something so brash, responded with this simple statement, "That's wonderful, Dana! Why don't we keep that a secret between you and me?"

A secret! A secret to be kept between me and my mom! I will never forget the joy that swelled in my little girl heart so much that I thought my chest would pop. So much joy because my mom agreed with me! She thought that I was the most popular girl in the third grade too! And if she thought it, I knew it had to be true. I went to school the next day and looked around at everyone, wanting so much to tell them what I knew...but it was a secret. So I smiled to myself and only said it in my head. I never said it aloud.

I've always felt that was the perfect way for my mom to quietly stand up for me. She stood up for me to keep anyone from standing up to this belief that continued on for several years (you know, until high school and hormones and cliques) and helped me to be the kind of friend and person that I am today. And I think I'm well-loved and pretty popular these days too!

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So that's it - that's the story! I just want to add that I am so thankful for a wise and wonderful Momma. I included that picture at the top because I hope that Max also is blessed by some of your wisdom, Mom. Love ya, lady!