To my precious Parker: You're a natural born leader
To my precious Parker: You're a natural born leader
You just keep surprising me.
You burst into my bedroom carrying two sets of paper, one in each hand, and euphoria last Thursday night.
“Daddy,” you said, unable to restrain your grin. “I have two things for you.”
It was one of those moments as your father that forced me to stop everything. You had something to say.
I put down my phone.
“What’s up, Sweetie?” I asked you. “What do you got?”
You inched closer. Giddy and giggly, you handed me the first set of papers from your right hand. It had your elementary school’s nameplate at the top. Your principal’s name was at the bottom.
I cringed. And then I got confused.
When I was your age, I never raced to my mother, your Grandma Berta, with anything pleasant from the principal. I lived a different life. I used to avoid my elementary school principal. The principal’s office was nothing but trouble for me. And when I got in trouble at school, I was punished by the principal with a wooden paddle to my backside. Google “paddling” one day.
But you did nothing that deserved punishment. Instead, you had every reason to be proud. And you knew I would be proud of you too the second you handed me the first stack. That’s why you couldn’t stop grinning.
I patiently began reading the four-paragraph letter while laying in bed.
“The Student Leadership Team (SLT) will serve as a collection of student voices to advise the principal on a variety of school-related issues and topics that affect their school community,” the letter read. “The goal is to capture the student perspective on different issues and ideas. The SLT will consist of 15 students from all grade levels … and will meet with the principal monthly during their grade-level lunch.”
Suddenly, I couldn’t stop grinning.
But the next sentence, the first in the letter’s second paragraph, stole my heart.
“You are receiving the attached application because your child has expressed interest to their teacher that they would be interested in this opportunity,” the letter read.
I put down the letter. I raised my right arm. I had to “give you three of ‘em” before I could focus enough to finish reading. We slapped palms up high three times, and I told you that, yes, I am extremely proud of you. You said thank you and told me you thought I’d be.
“Because, Daddy, you’re always telling me to be a leader and not a follower,” you said.
I smiled some more.
Then I read your responses to the four-question application. Your passion to be an earth helper runs so deep and is so pure. You amazed me again last weekend when you walked with me to the alley to take out the trash. You were determined to recycle your waste bin — and to inform me that the blue bins out back are for recycling.
The school asked what is one idea you have that may make your school better. I wasn’t surprised you said “more garbage cans.” You’ve loathed littering for a long time. You’ve always been proactive in affecting change. I’ve had to talk you down from picking up after other people, both at your school and in Chicago.
But that’s why you applied for the Student Leadership Team. You want to help. And you have big ideas. But you’ve got an even bigger heart. Your fourth answer said it all when you were asked to explain why you were interested in the SLT.
“I want to be a part of the SLT,” you wrote, “because I want to make the world a better place and I can start with my school!!”
By then, I had forgotten all about the set of papers you still held in your left hand. And it hardly mattered to me if you were selected for the SLT. It was important to me to tell you this before their ruling came down.
I see your character. I see your commitment.
And I’m proud to call you my child.
I wanted to celebrate you so much at my bedside last Thursday you had to remind me there was a second thing to show me. Some kind of fundraiser. It just occurred to me that you probably planned it that way. You know, butter me up to break me down.
I’m learning your moves, Parker.
Daddy wants you to know you’re making all the right ones.
Can’t get enough Money Talks?
Way to go Miss Parker. What's the fundraiser? How can we support her? If it's popcorn, count me in! And having good character is a good skill to have. Comedian Mo'Nique just came out with her recent interview on Club Shay Shay. She said something that reminded me of Miss. Parker's good character trait. She said it's a lot of rich people with a bankrupt character.