A Lanyard--A Gift for Mom

Parenting is a monumental challenge. The amount of energy that we pour into our children is incredible.  Today, children thank their mother--in a sweet but inadequate way.  Watch the video and chuckle:
There is no way a child can "pay back" a parent for all that has been done...though the task of watching them try is heart warming.  No, the task of parenting needs, in itself, to be inherently rewarding.  The reward of parenting is parenting itself.  While the school made necklaces and construction paper cards are sweet, they aren't the reward of parenting.  No lanyard, tissue paper rose, or painted flower pot is an adequate expression of love.  Little arms outreaching, sticky jam kisses,  an adolescent who tolerates a hug, a grown child who calls after years of distance--those are the nuggets of parenting that make it worthwhile.