Mother's Day Tea

Ryan's preschool had a Mother's Day Tea on Tuesday.  Moms & Grandmas were all invited to share in the festivities.  As I walked in the room... tables were set with small clear glass plates and tea cups.  Looking through them one could see the butterfly place mats each kid made.  Place cards made in part by the kids were holding a special seat for the matrons.  Painted paper butterflies hung from the ceiling, and carefully made tissue-paper flowers in planter boxes adorned the walls.  At the front of the room was a table holding the tea party treats.  Surrounding a centerpiece of flowers were small brownies, pieces of cake, fresh strawberries, mini quiches, and a few other items.  The preschoolers were responsible for making the decorations and several of the treats.

The class filed into the room, all aglow with excitement.  Ryan ran over and gave me a hug before returning to the line with his classmates.  They sang songs to familiar tunes, with words reflective of the occasion.  Ryan was at least one step in front of the line of children, jumping up and down, dancing and  being quite animated while loudly singing the songs.  Warmed my heart... he was pure, happy, and genuine.  I couldn't help but compare this performance to his first with his class shortly before the Thanksgiving holiday.  At that event, he didn't sing.  He reluctantly sat on his teacher's lap and cried... not wanting to participate at all (shortly before this performance was the incident with the pipe organ, so he was not so sure about school OR church at that point).  Seeing him now, so carefree, so happy... the way kids his age should be... was BETTER than any mother's day gift I could imagine!! (my only regret was that I did not have the foresight to bring the video recorder!)

After the performance, the kids presented gifts they had made to their moms.  One was a counting book they had worked on since the first week of school.  The last page in the book was the first page they had actually made... and was a handprint.  I placed Ryan's hand over the print of his 8-months-younger self and marveled at how he has grown.  The kids then served their loved ones the previously made treats on glass trays, and afterwards sat to enjoy the food and conversation.  

I had to go back to work after this, but what a break to my day!!  My heart was bursting with love and happiness.  I feel so lucky, so grateful, that I have the privilege of being mother to two wonderful boys!