Last week my four year old daughter followed me around the house, carrying a clip board and pencil, and asked me questions.  She then proceeded to ‘write’ down my answers on her sheet.

First she very officially asked my name and when I answered ‘Ami’ she wrote down MOM.

Eden then asked me what my favorite food is.  I told her popcorn and her little pencil went POPKN.

We hit a small snag when she asked what I like to drink and I said ‘pink lemonade.’  My daughter looked at me as if to say “Seriously woman, I’m four.  You expect me to spell pink lemonade?”   Eden then made an executive decision and  announced, “You like water the best!” and wrote down WTR on her paper.

I was then interrogated about what type of furniture was my favorite.  I had never considered that question before so there was a small pause while I thought of  an answer.  Eden began to tap her pencil in an impatient gesture designed to speed up my thought process.  It worked, because hell hath no fury like a thwarted preschooler.  I quickly informed the small survey taker that I liked book shelves the best.  Before she could complain, I reminded her that the sound ‘shhhh’ was spelled with an S-H.  So she wrote down SHF on her paper.

Her last question was ‘Who is your best friend?’  Without waiting for my answer, my daughter quickly wrote EDEN on the line.

While I am thrilled beyond measure that my youngest child is making a connection between how words sounds and how they are written, what I loved best is that she is so confident in my love for her.  She has no doubts about where she lies in my heart.

As a mom I am constantly wondering if I read to my children enough, if I am teaching them enough, if I am challenging them enough.  But really the only question that I should worry about is if I’m loving my children enough.

If I can say yes to that question then anything else is just gravy.