I’m sitting in my kitchen, perched atop a stool at the kitchen counter, a place the kids and I have had so many encounters — breakfasts, lunches, snacks, talks.

We always ended up here after Leland and Amanda’s plays, snacking on swiss cheese and melba crackers, critiquing performances. We’d sit here all watching Bruce cook dinner, waiting for our cue to set the table and take food to the dining room table. We’d sit here after school, talking about the day.

So, now, I’m sitting here alone, thinking of those days.

I notice the refrigerator.

I’m remembering all those drawings and notes from teachers and other important paraphernalia we’d post on that door with our souvenir magnets from our family vacations.
Surprisingly, even now, there is new artwork displayed in all its glory on the refrigerator door.

We have Amanda’s black and white project from her painting class — in which no black or white paint was used! She had to mix her colors to get the black and the shades of gray.

Leland’s posters from his exam play, “A Bright Room Called Day,” are exhibited in full color.

The difference is that these are not original artworks. They are pieces that have been e-mailed and printed out of the color printer.

But that’s better than nothing!

One of Amanda’s best pieces — maybe from as far back as middle school — still has a place of honor on the door.

There are some things we parents never outgrow.

One is our pride in our children’s accomplishments.

‹ Phyllis R. Sigal is design editor at The Intelligencer and Wheeling News-Register and designer of Ohio Valley Parent. She is the mom of Amanda, 22, and Leland, 20.