One Proud Mama
Strangers are evil, or so Alexis believes. She really is a very shy kid and rarely will even make eye contact with a new person. However, every once in a while, her spidey senses tell her that someone is an exceptional person deserving of her undying devotion. It's always a little weird when it happens. It's very sudden, and when it happens, I totally get a little teary.
I recently watched it happen when Alexis and I met my friend Heather for lunch. Heather is one of those really amazing people who is perpetually in a good mood, even when she's not. She can find the sunny on the cloudiest of days, and can bring a smile to your face instantly with one of her trademarks chuckles. I don't see her nearly often enough because she lives in the wrong part of town (totally her fault, you know), and Alexis hadn't seen her in YEARS. Literally, years.
It took less than five minutes for Alexis to go from the kid cowering to hide her face on my shoulder to the kid climbing all over Fedder (Alexis renamed her. It's sticking.). Fedder was kind enough to teach Alexis a new goofy face which Alexis has been practicing non-stop ever since. Since that little lunch, Alexis has made it a daily habit to ask if we can go see Fedder again.
Alexis lurves her some Fedder.
It's because I just saw that happen that when daycare told me a little story today, I was able to instantly believe every word of it. It's not that I would doubt them, but the idea of Alexis quickly making friends with a new person is *odd.* I can only think of about five times total that it's ever happened, and I tend to forget that she has that magical way of spotting exceptional people.
The story, according to the teacher, is that last week the preschoolers walked next door to the assisted living home. It's literally 50 feet away from daycare, and they frequently go over there to participate in an Art with Kids program. The residents pick out a craft to do with the kids, and then help them do it. Alexis usually stands with a teacher, not participating, and observing from afar. It's the shy kid way of dealing with a room full of strangers.
Last week, however, Alexis found one of her exceptional people. In just a matter of minutes, she had climbed up into her new friend's lap and was giggling and laughing and having a great ol' time working on an Easter project. In turn, her new friend was also giggling and grinning and having a great ol' time.
As fantastic as it is that the kid found a cohort to giggle with, that's not the part of the story that made my all weepy. That happened when the daycare teacher told me that the director of the facility literally dropped everything to run and grab a camera so she could capture the moment. It seems that the particular resident Alexis had taken to had never been spotted smiling. Ever. In her many years living there, the woman had never once smiled.
I already loved my kid to pieces, but I love her even more knowing that she has the ability to bring joy to people like that.
"Fedder Face"--Alexis really can't figure out how to do it, but she's going to practice and practice and practice until she does.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Reader Comments (34)
That is 87 kinds of awesome. She's an amazing kiddo.
OK, so I cried. Shut up.
I knew I liked that kid. *sniff*
I have to tell you that I knew that . . . your kid brings a huge grin to my face every time I click over here. And I would say she has a great Momma to thank for that!
Okay. And now I'm crying.
Aren't kids just freaking geniuses? Seriously. I really think they are.
Every time I see my boys interact with the residents at the nursing home where my dad lives it just melts my heart. Just brilliant. :)
What a great story. Priceless.
I take Junior to visit his grandmothers in their respective assisted living facilities as much as I can. Most of the time I just let him walk around the lunchroom because all the grannies want to smile at him and laugh. He loves it and so do they.
So sweet. I love the face and the whole story. Oh, and your day care ROCKS.
Awwww....tear:)
Dying of cuteness and hawtness and sweetness. Dying.
wow. she IS all kinds of awesome.
I love and adore that kid and that picture.
This story proves just what an amazing person you're raising!
That's a neat story. I hope Red can be that cool some day. :)
That is so sweet and man what a cute funny Fedder Face!
Incredible. What a wonderful little girl!
Melt.
She is obviously an amazing kid, not that YOU didn't already know that.
And yeah, I teared up a bit.
Oh! That is so sweet! That just brightened my day :)
Okay, thanks for making me cry. Damn preggo hormones... ; )
Sweet, sweet Alexis.
I seriously love the Fedder Face that I showed her. She is getting there...I think maybe I need to see you guys soon so I can help her perfect it. Thank you for all the kind words....you really made my day.
What a sweet kid and that is just an awesome story! You have to get a hold of that photo!
Some day you should take her over to just say hi to her. Or get Alexis to make her a card and mail it to her.
Poor thing prob. never gets mail.
Isn't is great that every once in a while, our kids do something to remind us we must be doing something right as a parent.
(Enjoy, it doesn't happen very often as they age!)
When my youngest was about the same age, we went out of town to a birthday party. He took a liking to some older woman there that we never met before.
A while after arriving, the woman came up to me and said "I feel honored, you son just asked me if I wanted to come and watch him poop"
I love the picture! This story made me tear up. Your home must be full of love to produce such a wonderful child.
If she never learns to do another thing, that one quality makes her so wonderful. You have every reason to be proud. Go, Alexis!
Now I'm weepy. Major props to the daycare for doing that. Major props to the assisted living center for thinking of that. I know that every time I take Dylan over to see my gpa (who is 96), it is the highlight of his week. It probably touched that lady in ways you'll never even know!
Um, yeah that brought me to tears as well. When my Gramma was in a nursing home, I saw how many of the residents were sad and lonely and so I'm sure that this woman is so terribly grateful to have Alexis in her life right now, if even for a little while.
That's one of the sweetest things I've ever heard! She has keen senses for the extraordinary because that's what she is. Only the best for the babe ;-)
Funny but Courtney is the exact same way she is very shy with strangers and it takes time for her to warm up. It's so awesome when she finally does because you know it really means something.
How awesome! Totally.
What a fantastic story and fantastic child! She's such a doll!
She's beautiful. Inside and out.
How sweet!!!
Awesome story!
After a long day teaching morose teenagers, it's nice to read something uplifting and sweet. :)
Awww So sweet! That is a story you will definitely be retelling for years to come!
I used to work in a senior living home, and I can totally see how it was probably a miracle that Alexis was able to bring joy to that resident! I hope they'll see each other again!
That is the sweetest thing ever!
My son's daycare campus also has assisted living and they visit over there. I think it's a wonderful part of the program.
Dude.
BEST. ALEXIS. STORY. EVER.
Literally? Goosebumps all over. She rocks. I'm so glad she made that woman's year.