Just call me Mrs. Zoolander.

I’ve been trying really hard to teach the kids that the most important thing about a person is his or her character.

That kindness and respect and compassion and responsibility and perseverance and hard work are much more important than your physical appearance.

You know, that what really matters isn’t what’s on the outside, but what’s on the inside.

Today we were all in the car on our way to get our Christmas tree.

We had Christmas music playing on the radio, and everyone was happy and singing and cooperative.

Out of nowhere, Number 3 said to me,

“You know, Mom, you should be really proud that you married Dad.”

“Really?” I said to him. “Why do you say that?” I asked.

I thought about all the things he might say.

Because we have a really great family.

Because Dad knows how to make a lot of things.

Because Dad helps take care of us…

“Because Dad used to be a model,” Number 3 said.

What. Ever.

I was happy it was dark out so that no one could see the extent to which I was rolling my eyes.

“Do you think Dad should be proud that he married me?” I asked.

I knew all those lessons about what’s on your inside being more important than the outside would click in here.

He’d have trouble narrowing it down to just one reason.

“Well, have you really ever done anything special?” he asked.

And back to the character education lessons we go.