Hi, my name is Patty and I am raising six children, the oldest is set to graduate college , in just ONE WEEK! And the rest follow on down the line as such; Chlesea, a sophomore in college, Max, a jr. in highschool, Sam, a 7th grader, Johnna, a 5th grader, and my baby, Harry, in the 3rd grade.

Last week, my teen Max, asked, "Mom, do we have any gum?", his girlfriend was coming over.

"Hmmm, I don't think so", I said, noting that the 'gum drawer' was empty.

Both my husband and I are avid gum chewers. It's a great way to keep your teeth and mouth clean, breath fresh, and , oh, don't worry, we are not 'smackers' or 'snappers'.

"Oh, wait a minute, Max" I said, the realization dawning on me that, yes, I did know where some gum was hiding afterall. "Check Harry's Treasure Box".

Just a few days ago, I had asked that same question, and Harry had led me into his bedroom. Beside his bottom bunk - he shares a bedroom with older brother Sam, is his latest goody, his wooden treasure box. It is large enough to double as an end table to hold his drinks, pokeman cards, D.S. and such.

Last month, a good friend of mine was moving. She invited me over to see if I wanted anything from her garage that she wasn't going to be using in her new home. Among the collection of silk plants, rugs, pictures, there lay a brown wooden box. "What's that?", I asked my friend. "Oh, she smiled, do you want it for one of the boys? Anthony made it, I have been trying to get rid of it for years, and finally he has agreed. He made it in highschool", and gesturing toward the box, she smiled again. Anthony is Karen's husband. They are probably two of the nicest , kindest people you would ever want to meet. They have three girls, so I am guessing, that they weren't interested in the box. "Are you sure, Karen? The girls don't want it? It's okay?", I double checked. "Are you kidding? Sure" she laughed, "take it for the boys, it'sa treasure chest":. thanking her, I put it in the back of my van, adding it to the assortment of 'goodies' that she had shared with me.

When I got home, Harry set it up beside his bed. His very own treasure chest. I told him to keep whatever was special inside. Well, when I needed gum, and there was none? "Oh, I have some Mom", Harry told me. "Come this way". I followed him into his bedroom. He opened the lid to his treasure box. It was full. First, he took out a carefully folded t-shirt that he had come home with that week from his field trip to the Shop Rite. I started to smile. Next, came his baseball glove, signed by Rusty Torres, an x-Yankee player who gave our kids a clinic this winter for baseball. Of course, that would be a treasure. He kept digging around, "I know it's somewhere in here", his little brow furrowed in concentration, very gently laying his items from his treasure box on his bed. His Ipod ( a handyman down from big brother) , came out next, followed by his D.S., some C.D.;s, his signed baseball and a bottle with a shark tooth in it. "Oh, here it is ", he said. And indeed, there it was. A foil pack of Dentyne Peppermint Gum, 7 chicklets left, sans the cardboard wrapper. He gave me two. "Thanks Honey, " I said. My heart all warm and fuzzy for this young son of mine. I watched him painstakingly and carefully return his belongings to his treasure chest.

These are the moments that fill my heart with the wonder of what goes on inside a little on'es head. What is important to a third grade boy. The treasures of his life.

You know, being a mom of six, you can get jaded about certain things, like the tooth fairy, for example. When my eldest lost her first tooth, I made it out to be such an extravaganza, from the glitter on the note that the tooth fairy left for her along with the money, one coin of each type, plus, some paper......but when the last of them lost their teeth? No note. They were lucky I remembered to stick a dollar under their pillow at all!

But a moment like HAary's treasure chest? How can you be jaded by the innocence and sincerity of what is in his heart, and oh, so valuable to him. I wonder if he'd let me borrow his Ipod sometime?

I Love you Harry!

God Bless You,

Patty