I went to the Dollar Tree last Thursday after class, which is a place I frequent more than I probably should. I had just picked up my three year old from Nana and Granddad's house when we decided that we could stop for a minute, and maybe even get some Icee pops.
There was an old man in line behind us who was trying to play peek-a-boo with Kendra and needless to say my child is a snob. She is afraid of everyone and is not afraid to give someone the stank-eye (including great-grandma) if they get too close. I am torn between trying to get her to be friendlier to strangers, or relatives she doesn't often see, or respecting her boundaries and letting her stay wrapped around my legs mostly out of sight.
I struck up a conversation with him and found out shortly that he had four grown children of his own, seven grandchildren, and one great-grandbaby on the way which him and his wife were going to go visit for a few weeks down in Arizona when he was born. You could see his chest puff up with pride in the fact that he helped make the family which had grown so big. I asked him how he and his wife handled staying together all of those year with four kids without at least one "accidental" murder happening (maybe not in those exact words).
While I was waiting for him to say something deep or profound, he simply shrugged his shoulders and went back to playing peek-a-boo with Kendra. Before we left he waved and she gave a tiny, you-could-almost-miss-it, wave back and he just rocked back on his heels with a smile. Maybe perseverance is the key to anything you really want in life, even the small triumphs.
Wow, a heart touching story. I can understand how you feel when it comes to strangers. It's a lot of cruel people in the world, but when you run across a random that's happens to be nice it's touching.
ReplyDeleteI try to always remind Lyndy that as long as she is with me or Steve, she can be friendly. I had the opposite problem when she was a baby-as long as you were a man, she was all yours! About 4 that turned and she is "up my rear" everywhere until she gets comfortable. I have let her set her own boundaries and eventually she is okay with even great-grandmas.
ReplyDeleteThat is a touchy subject when it comes to strangers. We want our kids to be friendly, but the world is so differnt today. I have a 2 year old who does not speak to anyone in public. She shys away from everybody, even some family members at time.
ReplyDeleteI understand this situation and have thought of it often. What do you teach young children now? My kids are older, but I would love to live in a world where we all felt free to help out if we saw someone broken down by the road. On one occasion my oldest had car trouble and a very nice man stopped to help her. When I found out a "stranger" had stopped to help, it scared me to death.
ReplyDeleteI love this story. As I read it, I could picture your little girl wrapped around your leg as you spoke to the man and even her shy, barely perceptible wave goodbye! She may be a little standoffish now, but I think she has a long life ahead of her sharing a beautiful heart!!
ReplyDeleteGood job, Mamma!!