Career Potential

I've written in the past about the school projects that the boys' teachers have so obviously made themselves, and which I'm expected to cherish forever anyway.

But last week, Elan came home with something pretty fabulous, his eyes twinkling with pride and excitement.

"Mommy, you aren't going to believe what I made you. You're not going to believe it. It is..."

He whipped his hands out from behind his back.

"...A necklace!"

Actually, it was a bracelet. But I opted not to correct him.

"Can you believe it?" He repeated.

Truth be told, the bracelet was a thing of beauty. Strung on twisted green pipecleaner, multi-colored buttons jangled and dangled from it in random succession. I slid it onto my wrist and informed Elan that it was the single most beautiful thing I'd ever laid eyes on in my life.

"And Mommy," he said, his voice hushed and serious. "See these parts?" He pointed to some tacky metallic buttons painted a too-bright gold. "They're golden! Do you have any'hing else what's golden??"

"No," I replied. "At least not like that. I will take VERY good care of this golden jewelry from my big boy."

He beamed. "You should keep it in that box where you keep all of your necklaces so you don't lose it, okay?"

"Yup. In the jewelry box it goes. Don't worry."

Suddenly, he looked concerned. "Listen, Mommy. You have to share it with Daddy too, okay? So he doesn't get sad. I made it for BOFE of you."

I sighed, trying to appear disappointed. "Oh, all right. I suppose I'll share it with him. I was going to wear it to work tommorrow..."

"Take TURNS wearing it to work. One day you will, and the next day Daddy will."

"Sounds fair."

The next morning, true to my word, I came downstairs dressed for work, makeup on, hair done - and a large, colorful, pipecleaner bracelet on my wrist.

"Hey guys," I said to the boys, all casually. "I'm just getting ready to head off to work, you know, me and my golden bracelet here."

The kid smiled so hard I thought his face would crack.

At the office, a co-worker was examining a waist-long necklace we'd be selling, made of large balls of brightly-colored twine.

"Can you believe this piece?" She asked.

"It's pretty funny. I'm surprised people will buy it," I said.

"I know - it looks kind of like the style of your bracelet there."

"My four-year-old made this. I promised I'd wear it to work. Of course, my husband gets a turn tomorrow - should go nicely with his suit and tie."

She laughs. "That's adorable! Looks like something we'd sell. He's right on trend!"

"How much is that one going for?" I pointed at the balls of twine.

"Guess."

"$200?"

"Not even close. You'll die - $665."

And it's not even golden.