Thanks

If nothing else (and I know there are millions of other something else’s) we have guided Turner into the wondrous world of manners. He rarely forgets to say thank you or please. Though he calls everyone “sir”, the most important words in the English language have to be thank you.

My mother keeps sending Turner clothes because he has grown out of many things so quickly. A pair of shorts will arrive one day. A $5.00 bill set aside for a special Turner treat found its way into our mailbox another day. A box of books was the main attraction last week. Mothers are ever-aware of children’s needs, and I have spent much of my life denying this fact, pushing the ‘hand outs’ off. I am thankful my mother is harder-headed than I and that she continues to meet my needs by providing for Turner in a way that I can’t afford to do right now. It is humbling and healing all at the same time. Each time something new arrives for Turner he opens it with joy, and I cry with thanksgiving. Turner touches my face, wipes away my tear, “You are crying Mommy?” “Yes I’m crying because I’m happy.” “Oh, I cry too.” He wipes his tears away, and thinks for a moment, “We tell Nanny thank you!”

Today he goes down for his nap. He yells from his bed, which is lined with three airplanes, a Mater tow truck, Sally (his red Porsche), Thomas train, Bear (from La La), Bunny (from Janet), and teddy (from Grandmother). Comforted by his well-organized sleeping audience, Turner needs only one thing I forgot…the hall light on. Of course it is the middle of the day, but none of us feel safe enough to sleep here without lights on. He yells to me, “Please turn light on Mommy.” And again, “Mommy [more impatient emphasis on the ‘e’ sound] please turn hall light on please, please.” I get to the light but there is a delay from the time you light it until it turns on. “light Mommy pl…” the light pops on. A very angelic and calm, “Thanks Mommy.” It sounds more like thinks with that long snakey ‘s’.