In such a big family it was sometimes easy to get lost in the crowd. I remember the last summer we had with uncle Gary. One day out at the pool, there was a million people doing a million things, so that no one noticed how I had tried all summer long to get my nerve up to go off the diving board (I was only like 8 or 9 years old). One day I finally got over the fear to do it. When I wiped the water from my eyes, the only person watching was uncle Gary who said, "Wow! Jamie I'm so proud of you! Way to go! You conquered your fear!".
No one heard him say it to me, and he had 3 kids of his own and was so busy with work he was the last person I'd ever expect to notice something like that, but he said those simple words to me that I will never forget.
A little bit of encouragement for a child goes a long way :)