Your precious luggage

As soon as I entered the store, I smiled and said:

- This year I will buy you some new clothes and a new bag so you will have more spirit when going to school. It's like a new start.

My son looked around for a moment, then turned back and whispered:

- Thank you, Mom. But Mom, the clothes I wore last year still fit me and are still brand new. I don't need to buy any more. As for the school bag, although it's a little faded, it's still very sturdy. I can keep using it. Don't waste money buying new ones.

Hearing my son speak, I paused. A boy of nearly ten years old, yet his thinking was surprisingly mature. An indescribable emotion suddenly rose in my heart, both pity for my son and pride, and a stinging in my eyes.

I gently stroked my child's head and smiled reassuringly:

- My son is all grown up, he knows how to save for me. I know, saving is necessary, but don't forget to allow yourself to accept new things to have more motivation to move forward. The clothes and school bag I bought today are not simply necessities, but also the belief and encouragement I give you before a new school year.

He was silent for a moment, then smiled and said:

Yes. I understand. Then mom, just buy me one set, the rest I will wear last year's clothes. As for the bag, I will use the old one. It's still usable, it's a pity to throw it away!

The moment I finished listening to my child, I suddenly remembered my childhood. Back then, the family had many siblings and was not well off. Clothes, shoes, books, etc. were often “passed down from generation to generation”, and after the older child used them, they would pass them on to the younger. The feeling of having my mother buy me something new was rare, and because it was rare, it was extremely precious. I still remember clearly the year I entered 6th grade, my mother saved up for a long time to have enough money to buy me a brand new school bag. That was the first new school bag I had. The school bag was dark red, with a picture of a blonde girl with a bright smile printed on the front. Back then, I cherished it like a treasure. Every night before going to bed, I took out my school bag, cleaned it carefully, caressed it, inhaled the new smell, and then arranged my books neatly inside. The bag has accompanied me throughout my middle school years. Although the straps are worn and the color has faded, to me, it is still a priceless gift, containing my mother's love and the innocent pride of my student years.

Thinking back to my childhood, I quietly looked at my child in the present. Life now is very different from my poor days. My child can have new clothes, new backpacks whenever he needs them, and I used to worry that such abundance would make him demanding and spoiled. However, today, in front of beautiful, colorful new items, my child chose to keep the old backpack, wearing the same clothes from last year, just to save money for his mother. That moment made me choke up. In the past, in poverty, I learned to appreciate every item my mother bought. But today, in the midst of a life of plenty, my child has learned to be frugal and to think of others. Even though circumstances may be different, times may change, in the end, the most lasting and precious things are still love, sharing and understanding.

That day, I listened to my son, bought him a new set of clothes and let him continue to use his old school bag. After buying the necessary items, the afternoon was coming, the market was still bustling with the sounds of buyers and sellers. My son walked and helped his mother carry things, and innocently told me about his plans for the new school year, such as trying to get high marks in Math - his favorite subject, joining the school's soccer and chess teams... I listened, feeling strangely relieved and happy. Perhaps, the important thing is not whether the items are new or old, but the attitude he has towards studying and the feelings he has for his mother.

The back-to-school season, to me, is not only the season of the opening drum, of pure white shirts and brand new notebooks. It is also the season for parents like me to quietly look at ourselves in the eyes of our children, to realize that, even though time passes and circumstances change, simple values such as love, sharing and gratitude always remain.

Walking out of the market, I smiled and squeezed my son’s hand. I thought to myself, “My son, I don’t need much. As long as you keep your heart pure, know how to love and think of others, then wherever you go, you will have the most precious luggage for your life.”

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/van-hoa/202508/hanh-trang-quy-gia-cua-con-5510c2e/