On a very hectic day when my husband and I were busy going in a hundred directions， our four-and-a-half-year-old son， Justin Carl， had to be reprimanded for getting into mischief. After several attempts， my husband George finally told him to stand in the corner. He was very quiet but wasn't too happy about it. Finally， after a few moments， he said， \"I'm going to run away from home.\"

My first reaction was surprise， and his words angered me. \"You are?\" I blurted. But as I turned to look at him， he looked like an angel， so small， so innocent， with his face so sad.

As my heart felt his pain， I remembered a moment in my own childhood when I spoke those words and how unloved and lonely I felt. He was saying so much more than just his words. He was crying from within， \"Don't you dare ignore me. Please notice me!I'm important too. Please make me feel wanted， unconditionally loved and needed.\"

\"Okay， Jussie， you can run away from home，\" I tenderly whispered as I started picking out clothes， \"Well， we'll need pj's， your coat...\"

\"Mama，\" he said， \"what are you doing?\"

\"We'll also need my coat and nightgown.\"

I packed these items into a bag and placed it by the front door. \"Okay， Jussie， are you sure you want to run away from home?\"

\"Yeah， but where are you goin'?\"

\"Well， if you're going to run away from home， then Mama's going with you， because I would never want you to be alone. I love you too much， Justin Carl.\"

We held each other while we talked. \"Why do you want to come with me?\"

I looked into his eyes. \"Because I love you， Justin. My life would never be the same if you went away. So I want to make sure you'll be safe. If you do go， I will go with you.\"

\"Can Daddy come?\"

\"No， Daddy has to stay home with your brothers. And Daddy has to work and take care of the house while we're gone.\"

\"Can Freddie (the dog) come?\"

\"No， Freddie has to stay here， too.\"

He thought for a while and said， \"Mama， can We stay home?\"

\"Yes， Justin， we can stay home.\"

\"Mama，\"

\"Yes， Justin?\"

\"I love you.\"

\"I love you too， honey. How about you help me make some popcorn?\"

\"All right.\"

In that moment I knew the wondrous gift of motherhood I had been given， that the sacred responsibilities to help develop a child's sense of security and self- esteem are nothing to be taken lightly. I realized that in my arms I held the precious gift of childhood: a beautiful piece of clay willing and wanting to be cuddled and magnificently molded into a confident adult masterpiece. I learned that as a mother I should never \"run away\" from the opportunity to show my children they are wanted， important， lovable and the most precious gift from God.

那是個忙亂的日子，我和丈夫正忙得不亦樂乎。四歲半的兒子賈斯廷·卡爾頻頻遭到訓斥，因為他總是添亂。幾次批評過后仍無濟于事，最后，丈夫喬治讓他去角落站著思過。他變得很安靜，但是不太高興。一陣沉默過后，他說道：“我要離家出走?！?/p>

我的第一反應是很吃驚，他的話惹怒了我。“你會嗎?”我脫口問道。但當我轉過頭看他時，發(fā)現(xiàn)他是如此嬌小無辜，像一個小天使，只是臉上流露出悲傷的表情。

我理解他的苦楚。記得我小時候也曾說過這樣的話，那一刻只是感覺很失落、孤獨和無助。他說出的這句話包括了太多的含義。他的內心在哭泣：“你們不該這樣忽視我!請關注我!我也非常重要。請讓我知道你們需要我，無條件地愛我，確實離不開我!”

“好啊，賈西，你可以離家出走，”我柔和地小聲對他說，然后開始給他整理衣物，“呃，我們要把你的T恤和外套帶上……”

“媽媽，”他說，“你做什么呢?”

“還得把我的外套和睡衣也帶上?！蔽野岩挛镅b到包里，放到門口。“好了，賈西，你確實要離家出走嗎?”

“對，可是你要去哪里呢?”（接下頁）

（接上頁）“哦，如果你要離家出走，媽媽要陪你一起走，媽媽不想讓你孤單一個人。因為媽媽太愛你了，賈斯廷·卡爾!”

說著，我們擁抱在一起。“為什么你要陪我一起走呢?”

我凝視著他的眼睛。“因為我愛你，賈斯廷。如果你走了，我生活的一切都將改變，所以我一定要保證你的安全。如果你要走，我就陪你一起走。”

“爸爸能和我們一起走嗎?”

“不能，爸爸要和你哥哥們待在家里。他還得上班，我們不在家時，他要看家。”

“弗雷迪(狗)能和我們一起走嗎?”

“不，弗雷迪也必須待在家里?！?/p>

他沉思了片刻說：“媽媽，我們可以留在家里嗎?”

“當然可以，賈斯廷，我們可以留在家里?！?/p>

“媽媽?！?/p>

“什么事，賈斯廷?”

“我愛你?！?/p>

“我也愛你，寶貝。和我一起去做爆米花怎么樣?”

“好吧?！?/p>

剎那間，我懂得了，給孩子安全感，幫助他們培養(yǎng)自尊心是身為人母神圣不可推卸的責任，他們是上天賦予我們的神奇禮物。我感覺懷抱的是一份孩童時期無比貴重的禮物：一個渴望得到關愛的雛形，他們希望被打造成輝煌的杰作——一個自信的成年人。我知道身為人母決不可以“躲避”任何向孩子表白的機會，要告訴他們：他們無可替代，他們是重要的、惹人喜愛的，是上天給予的最貴重的禮物。