Perception & practice

Sometime over the last several months, my son began believing I am better than I am; craftier, stronger, and generally more capable than I’ve ever demonstrated. Last week he confidently assessed a spiraling tiered cake and asserted, “You could make that cake, mommy.” This morning he pondered the steps required to produce a stuffed animal because he believes I “could probably make another Perry Platypus” if only I “had a factory.”

Following each of his suggestions, I’ve noted the skill necessary to perfect the proposed endeavors; I explain the demands of time and money, and most importantly, passion.

Here’s what gets me most – he insists, still, I can do it all.

Every day, and without words, my son gives me reason to want to excel. In being – just being – he drives me to be the sort of person he might one day want to be. I don’t always succeed.

Now amid a multitude of rambling conversations on baking and platypi (and everything in between) he’s helping me identify and question the bounds I perceive and guarantee I don’t unintentionally impose them on his world. Simply, I’ve realized through his convictions, we people are very capable beings.