I am a proud mama today.

Little J has been nominated to represent his pre-school for "Responsibility" this month!

At the elementary school that his pre-school is associated with, each month they celebrate certain good character traits. It's called "character education." I don't know if it really works to promote good character, but it certainly makes the child who's nominated to represent his/her class feel really good.

Little J has been chosen to be "Responsibility" because of a not-so-nice thing he did which he took responsibility for.

Here's what happened: at lunch he hit another little boy in the head with his lunchbox (don't worry - it was a soft-sided lunchbox, not metal!). When he told me about it it didn't surprise me at all! Lunchtime is when his ADHD meds are wearing off and even if they hadn't been wearing off, he's 4, for heck's sake. Four year old boys do stuff like that.

His preschool teachers told him his punishment was that the next day he couldn't bring his lunchbox to school. He would need to bring a paper bag instead.

Well, the first thing he did when he got home was tell me what he'd done. I called the school to verify that he wasn't to bring his lunchbox the next day (making a mental note NOT to let him have school lunch, as that would defeat the purpose) and they said yes, he'd been correct.

So the next day I packed up his lunch in an ugly old paper bag that I had and brought it in - and you should have heard his teachers! They were so pleased that he'd told me they went on and on about how smart he was and responsible and how grown-up he was for taking consequences for his actions...it was nice to hear.

Of course I'd have rather he hadn't hit the kid in the head with the lunchbox to begin with, but I was also pleased with him. He is really, really growing up.

Yesterday they told me about the "Responsibility" nomination. I couldn't help it! I teared up. Six months ago who would have thunk it?