Doing it Right

As parents, we often look for feedback from our kids or others, something to let us know that we are doing a good job. I don't know anyone who wouldn't be tickled if someone told them how smart or polite their child was. I was thrilled when the man sitting in front of us on the flight to California told me how well behaved my girls were. Here's the part where I confess that they were asleep for most of the trip. As someone who has flown with and had to sit in front of children on a plane, I guess quiet and not kicking the back of your seat definitely qualify as good behavior.
I even had an employee at Arby's tell me that one of my kids was the most pleasant six year old she had ever seen. To which I had to fight the urge to say, "You don't get out much, do you?" The same sweet lady at church offers to take my baby home with her every Sunday. To which I always have to say, "You don't understand. She's not always this sweet!"
But yesterday morning something monumental happened. My husband was busy trying to force my child who has problems with hypoglycemia to eat her egg for breakfast. She looked at him and then used the "m" word. "Daddy, you're mean!" I have to admit that I did a little dance right there in the middle of the kitchen. "Did you hear that?" I practically yelled. "Did you hear that? She said we're mean. YESSSS! That means we're doing it right!" My husband sat there for a second, then said, "Huh?" I danced some more. "She said we're mean. That means we are doing this whole parenting thing right! Awesome. Thanks, Toots, you made my day!"
I don't think that's quite the reaction my daughter was looking for after such a bold statement, as the look she gave me could have burned through my skin and cooked my vital organs. But hey, I got confirmation from the horse's mouth that we are doing something right, and you can't ask for more than that!