"It's a major award!"

Ralphie's dad exclaimed this when he received the legendary Leg Lamp in "A Christmas Story." The old man was bursting with pride at his major award. Well, that's how I felt the other day when Alex's teacher told me that Alex would be receiving an award at the school's monthly assembly. She told me that Bethany and I should come see he win his award and that it was a surprise. You can imagine the excitement I felt. Would it be a 50" tall plastic leg lamp complete with fishnet stockings that Alex would receive? I doubted it, but still I was giddy with anticipation. When each day that you pick your child up from school you expect the teacher to tell you about the latest way that he has found to get himself into trouble , it comes as a welcome surprise to learn that he has been noticed doing something right.

So, yesterday at breakfast I asked Alex what he would be doing at school that day and he said they were having an assembly. He didn't know about his award, but he said parents usually come to these things and that he wished we could, too. We told him we would try, but no promises. Bethany took him to the bus stop and he went on to school thinking that we wouldn't show up. But when he walked into the gym/cafeteria/auditorium his face lit up as he saw Mommy & Daddy sitting in the audience.

After some excruciatingly boring readings by some second graders, Mr. Salmons, the principal introduced all of the special award winners for the month. Two or three kids from each class received recognition for something, including our son. "...For demonstrating excellence in both reading and writing, Alex Naughton." (Hold your applause till everone's name has been read.)

Reading and writing! Who knew how to write all his letters before he was even four years old? Who started reading Dr. Seuss books at that tender age? Who taught him how to write while doing that "stay at home dad" thing? Who has the best mommy in the world because she reads to him every night before bed? A major award indeed. Only he didn't receive a magnificent (if not profane) lamp. He won a pencil. A really cool pencil that says "Superstar" on it.

Oh yeah, when his name and achievement were announced, Alex wasn't paying attention. His teacher had to tap him on the shoulder and tell him to go up front. It wasn't until Bethany picked him up at the end of the day that he finally learned what he had been rewarded for.