Ruby suggested she'd like to go into town and check out the 'carnival'. What a disappointment! No stalls of arts, crafts or produce - only rides and not all going at that. So I wasn't tempted to let the girls on them and the boys hated the hydraulic sound. We did 'make a memory' and take a photo of the children all sitting on the concrete sheep sculptures in the centre of town.

Then on the way home I had a very special experience. The children and I were walking up the main street with many of the shops closed. A clothing store was open and as we passed Ruby picked up a blouse that had fallen off one of the racks. She couldn't put it back on the one it was near as it was overflowing so put it on the other. I thought nothing of it until further up the other end of the same block a woman in a car got our attention.

I went over to her car to 'help' her. She pointed to Ruby and thanked her for picking up the blouse! She was disabled and had wanted to get out of her car to do something about it but wasn't so nimble. She had seen 6 people pass by and do nothing. 3 of those had directly come out of the clothing store and walked around the blouse. She thought it was worth stopping and thanking Ruby for it- made my day and made me cry!

For some, their child's achievement in SAT's or on the sports field is a sign of success. For me it is this type of comment from a stranger about my child's character that focuses my attention back on what I value.

If I can raise my children to know what is right then they will do what is right. Teaching my children to think and decide for themselves is the pen-ultimate challenge.

And whats more - I wasn't nagging!