Since the kids are off school, we take a few minutes before running out to “do” something. Today, I was taking the kids swimming and I mentioned I didn’t have any money. Which meant I didn’t have any cash and would have to stop at the cash machine. I thought nothing of it, and I continued chasing Addison around the dining room table.

A few minutes later, Coco waved a 2000 colones bill (about $4.00) in front of me. Have you ever had a moment so rich, so complete, you feel like you just crossed the rainbow yet when you pinched yourself, it hurt because you weren’t dreaming? This was that moment. In an instant I saw all that parenting work, all that beauty open up in front of me and drop to my feet like a treasure chest tipped open.

Coco gave me the money. She’d dug into her allowance stash and gave me the bill. At first I didn’t want to take it. Taking money from a kid? Then, I realized it was just as important that she had a chance to share when it wasn’t forced down her throat by me: Share with your brother; help your friends; can you get another diaper for your mommy? I took the money and said thank you and told her it was one of the best gifts I’d ever gotten.

That rainbow we saw last night did have a pot of gold at the end of it, after all.