You’re learning how to charm.
This is a fairly powerful Mottola male trait, though I think it skipped me in my generation and fell directly to Sergio. I see the early signs in your inclinations to make art for girls you know and flatter them for a reaction.
We were out back on the swings the other day and you told me about your friend at school, Mickey, who you said is, “So cute… She’s the cutest girl in the whole wide world.” You made her a bracelet and Mom says when you gave it to her she responded with the biggest hug and said how much she loved you. Good game.
You also told me on the swings that one your friends, Calvin, said a bad word, “hate,” as in “I hate walking to the woods.” That’s a tough spot to be in at an outdoor pre-kindergarten. You remembered that the other bad word is “stupid” and we agreed those are the only bad words in the whole wide world. That’s relieving to me because I use a lot of other words that I thought were bad.
You like to tell Mom that “you’re so beautiful” and of course the imprecise pronunciation melts her and anyone around her. Sometimes she’ll reply with a big hug and kiss, and that, young man, is pretty much the big idea.
It’s not all that hard, paying attention to people and communicating how you feel about them, but it’s also easy to forget to do. Make it a system.
When I was a young man, I remember watching an episode of Oprah. The guest, who I perceived to be a super smart guy, said he compliments his wife every day, and that was the key to their marriage. That stuck with me for some reason, so that’s what I do. I try to compliment or say something I like about your Mom at least once every day. She usually brushes it off as just another thing I say and do in passing, but sometimes I get the reciprocal affection. Seems to be work enough of the time and makes up for the absense of charm otherwise.
As for you, just keep up the good work.
Love,
Dad