School’s back, which means…pop quiz time!

Q. Your boss selects you for a special project due to your excellent performance. Your boss knows that you are capable of accomplishing the project and associated tasks on your own, but gives you leeway to choose a partner to help you. It can be anyone on your team.

Who do you choose?

A. Your best friend at work- You can complete the project on your own, but you enjoy working alongside your best friend. It makes the tasks much more enjoyable.

B. The superstar-The superstar other than you, of course! This person is so competent, she could help you finish the project in half the time with better results than completing it on your own.

C. The newbie-It’s his/her first day on the job.

My husband and I definitely toggled back and forth between options A and B. They both had a certain appeal. In the end, we both opted to work alongside a friend. Efficiency is a beautiful thing, but completing the project while having fun sounds more…fun.

(Sorry, I’m starting to sound like members of the US Olympics swim team and their effusive use of the word “fun.”)

Well, if this were in fact a real pop quiz, my husband and I would have both failed according to Lexi, our first grader. This was the scenario she encountered during her first week, and she made a very different choice. One that humbled us both.

Her teacher asked her to be a “helper” because of her conduct, and the teacher allowed her to select a partner. The assigned tasks included taking supplies to other classrooms, taking notes to the office, etc… She was perfectly capable of completing these tasks on her own, but her teacher allowed her to pick a partner in crime. Lexi could have picked her kindergarten crush and best friend. She could have picked from the other “well-behaved” kids. But she did neither of things. She picked a little girl named Mary.

Lexi didn’t know Mary and had never spoken to her. When I asked her why she chose that little girl versus a friend or someone she knew, she said, “Mommy, that’s why I picked her. I didn’t know Mary, and that’s how you get to know people. She looked sad, and when we walked down the hall, I found out that she didn’t enjoy school and didn’t want to be there.”

Oh.

There are many people that inspire me and challenge me to be better. Lexi is one of those people. I find myself stunned by her love of others. I don’t always love like that.

This morning, I asked if she was going to pick Mary to be her partner again. She said, “I don’t know Mommy. I might, but then I might ask someone else I don’t know. Don’t worry about what’s going to happen later. Just think about what’s going on right now. And right now, I want a hug and kiss. Bye, Mommy. Have a good day!”

Oh. Okay. Another pop quiz.

Who’s the parent again?