Walk into any kindergarten class this week and you’re likely to see a similar SCENE. Mother’s Day is right around the corner and bright-eyed children are talking about mom.
When I visited a school in Brooklyn, New York, the classroom full of 5- and 6-year-olds couldn’t wait to share their enthusiasm.
I met Elijah who told me about his mom. “She loves to eat gingerbread. My mom loves to wear the necklace her mom gave her.”
He went on to say, “My mom loves to say, ‘I love you and I like you.’”
I also met Abena, who told me, “When I look at my mom, the first thing I think of is me and my mom hugging and kissing each other.”
Little Maddy said she was going to do things for her mom. “I’m going to set the table, take my dog on a walk and help her.”
Five-year-old Stella wiggled in her chair for a little bit and looked around the room, as kids do, and then said, “I’m going to make my mom a special dinner and a special Mother’s Day cake and I’m going to give her a kiss.”
It’s simple and powerful hearing children talk about what matters most to them about their moms.
Like 6-year-old Elysa in an art class at the 92nd Street Y in Manhattan. She was making a beautiful card for her mom.
“How many years have you been celebrating Mother’s Day?” I asked.
“Uhm, I think two. I don’t know,” she said shyly.
“Two? But, you’re 6 years old”,
“Maybe 5? I have no idea. I don’t know.”
But I know it was one of those moments when kids say the kind of things that Art Linkletter built his career around.
And that’s OK.
This is the weekend when mothers get extra special attention.
They’re even getting shout-outs on Twitter. Some of the most popular phrases people are using to describe their moms online are:
Happy
The Best
My life
My Everything
Beautiful
Proud
Pretty
Amazing
My world
Strong
Woodrow Wilson would be pleased, I think, that 100 years after he signed the proclamation creating Mother’s Day, the effort to honor mothers is still going strong.
And it begins very early with children like those I met this week. They keep the tradition fresh and playful.
As 6-year-old Dimitri said, “My mom teaches me to jump very high. She’s very nice and loveful.”
