Choices and Rewards

Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.

Lewis Earned A Great Behavior Celebration

Last Friday my youngest son Lewis came home with a note from school.
It wasn’t your typical note, you know the type of note states the bad choices that your child has made but a note stating that the good choices that your child has chosen to make has earned him a Great Behavior
Celebration. 

It was scheduled for Tuesday, November 25th from 1:30-3:00 at his school.  The kids were told to bring their favorite pillow so they can chill with their guest, watch Aladin and have snacks.  Just like movie night at home but at school with your friends and family. The reward was for all third grade students that met the expectations in the classroom.  My son was so proud of the choices he made and the reward was not only the movie party but being able to show me what a big boy he is becoming.

I Couldn’t Be More Proud

I couldn’t be more proud, not just of my son and the choices he made but of myself and the choices that I have made.  While I was sitting in the back of the room watching the kids gather their snacks and showing off their special pillows, it hit me.  I am so proud to be a work from home Mom.  If I was still working my manager position I may or may not have been able to attend this celebration.  Not only that but If I was still working, my son may not be able to even attend this school because it’s a private school and they do not provide transportation or before and after school accomidations.  What I would normally need in order to get to work ontime and work until 5:00 in the evening. 

But I made the decision to share this with you when realized the impact of my choices.  I found the room they were doing the celebration and looked for Lewis to give him his pillow pet that he begged me not to forget.  He turned around to see who was tapping on his shoulder with tears in his eyes.  I asked him what happened and why was he crying but he said nothing as he proceeded to wipe his tears quickly and smile like chester the cheetah .

He was crying because he thought I wasn’t going to make it.
I didn’t get there as early as some other parents because I was just finishing up my weekly conference call that I conduct every
Tuesday from 1:00-1:30.  I was just finishing up the call when I walked into the school.

That moment was confirmation to me that I had made the right choices.  I had chosen to be a better parent.  I had chosen to be an involved parent.  I had chosen to believe that I could do that by working from home.  I had chosen to take a chance as an Entrepreneur so I can control the bulk of my schedule and live the life that I envision.  I have chosen to live life on my own terms.

Many go into business to live a better life and make more money, but no amount of money could have paid for that smile on my son’s face.  The reward that I recieved today did not come from my bank account it came from my son’s happiness, the reason why I made the choices in the first place.

Make it a great day!