More beautiful than diamonds

"I made this for you, Mommy!" my son exclaimed, handing me a bright ring of red, green, and white beads - a leftover Christmas ornament project I had saved for a rainy day.

I'd never seen him sit still for anything that didn't involve food or trucks.

His drawings are adorable, but cryptic. Big squares with scribbled wheels. Body-less people with big round empty eyes.

His craft projects or "wads full of junk glued together" are endearing.

And they are all lovely, in a "you're my offspring so I will treasure this odd looking thing and then secretly toss it out without you knowing because it scares me" sort of way.

But there he sat, his head bent over the table and his tiny fingers carefully slipping the beads onto the green wire, determined to make a discernible "something."

"It's beautiful. I want to wear it every day!" I told him as he anxiously watched me slip it onto my arm.

And I do.

Like the tightly knotted bands and garishly beaded bangles displayed proudly on the arms of moms before me - some with their Coach bags, others with their under eye bags, both wearing their gifts like a diamond tennis bracelet not caring if it matched anything on their body.

He'd strung it twice after his sister tried to help him and his creation crashed onto the floor, beads rolling in every direction. He picked them up completely unfazed, starting from scratch, restringing each bead and finally asking his dad to twist it closed.

"Do you love it?" he asked, twisting the beads around as he admired his handy work on my arm. 

More than you know.

Comments

[Vicky]

When I was in college my little cousin made me this ridiculous Lisa Frank unicorn/star beaded bracelet and gave it to me one Christmas. It was so sweet of her and I wore it each time I flew home from school as a good luck/let's not crash the plane charm. I still have it to this day. My cousin is now in her early 20s.

[Edie Mindell]

Awwwww!!! So sweet of your son to give you that bracelet. I bet you are very proud of him.:-) It's very thoughtful of him; it only shows how much he loves and values you as his mom.:-)

[MomInNorway]

So true, and all that sweetness makes up for the other stuff.

[Esther Crawford]

That's very sweet :)

[Melissa]

I love it!
Better than gold.

[Nicole M.]

I don't know why but just reading this has me crying my eyes out. Beautifully written. I cannot wait for any of my children to make me some beaded jewelery. <3

[Jess]

I have a son. Two daughters, and one son, and sometimes he hits me in a spot in my heart my girls don't touch. I don't know why. Something about his boyness, his sweet spirit underneath the male ego that seems to layer them from birth, makes me melt just a bit.

[Debi (Truthful Mommy)]

Awww. so sweet! Nothing is better than a piece made with love through the due diligence of our babies!

[Susan @ Sassafrassery]

There's nothing better.

[Karen Chatters]

Awww, what a cutie!!

[laura]

i have many priceless treasures in my jewelry box like these. they truly are more precious than any fine jewelry piece i might own. it is truly a beautiful piece, mama! so is that baby bump!
i can proudly brag that i own some of your son's amazing art. i recalled how proudly he presented them to me as i read this. he is such a great kid...remember that on the days, well, you know.
give that sweet boy a hug from me.

[Nucking Futs Mama]

I loved this post! You totally captured the way I feel about the very special handmade gifts on which my kids spend extra time. They truly are priceless!