My 5 year old brought a gift for me from his school and tried to hide it so he could give me a surprise on Mother's Day. However, his dad worried the muffins may attract ants and leaked the secret. I told him I loved the beautiful cloth napkin he painted and thanked him. I told him I would save it for Sunday. However, on Saturday, his 15 year old brother found the two muffins and ate one right away. My 5 year old cried. Later I told him he could eat the other one. I said I loved his gift and would save his napkin and the gift bag. He loves muffins and would eat them whenever he gets one. But he said, "No, mom, it's for you. I want you to have it." I felt so moved. He is a boy who loves eating. He would eat others' leftover if it's something he likes. But this time he could control his desire for it and leave it for somebody he loves. I felt like all the effort, pain, money, etc. I spent on him were nothing compared to his gift--the love hidden inside his little body. The love from your child is the best reward you can get as a mom.
