When You Thought I Wasn't Looking

by Mary Rita Schilke Korzan

When you thought I wasn't looking,     I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator,         and I wanted to paint another one. When you thought I wasn't looking,     I saw you feed a stray cat,         and I thought it was good to be kind to animals. When you thought I wasn't looking,     I saw you make my favorite cake for me,         and I knew that little things are special things. When you thought I wasn't looking,     I heard you say a prayer,         and I believed there is a God I could always talk to. When you thought I wasn't looking,     I saw tears come from your eyes,         and I learned that sometimes things hurt, but it's all right to cry. When you thought I wasn't looking,     you smiled,         and it made me want to look that pretty, too. When you thought I wasn't looking,     I saw that you cared,         and I wanted to be everything that I could be. When you thought I wasn't looking,     I felt you kiss me goodnight,         and I felt loved. When you thought I wasn't looking,     I looked,         and wanted to say thanks for all the things I saw             when you thought I wasn't looking.