say what?

This morning, while I was getting the cereal out of the cupboard, Tru asked me if he could have a banana. I told him he couldn't have one now and he said, "Okay Mommy."
Now, this is important and you might have missed it so I'm going to tell you again. My three-year old, the one who screams at me, throws things and knocks over chairs, was denied a request and responded by saying, "Okay Mommy." Do you know what the normal response is to being told that he can't have a banana at the precise moment that he wants one? On good days it's clenching his fists super tight and making the veins on his neck stand out while he yells, "You're so mad Mommy/I'm never talking to you again/Argh!" On bad days it's throwing something that happens to be within his reach or threatening to punch me. But today, it was a simple response. One that I have drilled again and again with both boys. When I say no to a request their response should be, "Okay Mommy." There shouldn't be whining or yelling or throwing of things.
Here's the kicker though. That beautiful response from my dragon went in one ear and out the other. I didn't even notice it. Truett actually pointed it out to me. "Did you hear what I said Mommy? I said okay Mommy." I am so used to the complaints and threats and anger that I completely missed my little boy offering me a good response. I missed that moment of praising him and making a huge deal out of it.
I'm so glad that he pointed it out to me. I'm so glad that I had the opportunity to tell him what a great job he did and how proud I was. But I wish that I had heard it on my own. I wish that I wasn't now wondering how many other opportunities to praise my boy have passed me by because I'm so tuned in to the inappropriate behaviors and responses.
That being said, I'm also just so glad that I had that moment to hold on to today. That moment of knowing that my kids do listen to me and that there is hope at the end of the tunnel.

photo from: davidpenglase.com.au