We all do it, no matter how much we hate it. We, as mothers and even before as non-parents, tend to judge the actions of other parents, non-parents, kids, etc. Maybe it's not always a bad thing, more of a comparative thing, but it generally gives us the wrong results. I continue to learn this more and more as I encounter different parenting styles and different kid personalities, and it all makes you realize that every situation is different and we're all going after the same goals --- survival, enrichment, growth and hopefully some fun in there, too.
Today's lesson from the playground. Levi and I are enjoying a lovely playdate with our other friends from MOPS at a playground. It's not too crowded, the sun in shining, everything is great. A yellow school bus pulls up and begins to offload a swarm of bigger, louder kids. Oh great, here some these big kids who are going to overrun the park and trample our little kids. Why do they have to ruin our day?
I was wrong! These kids, while older and faster, were all very well behaved and so considerate of the little kids. Levi actually spent a good half hour befriending a few older boys, maybe first graders, and following them around. They not only tolerated Levi, they embraced him as another kid to play with. The oldest kid patiently let Levi scoop mulch into his hands, let him kick their soccer ball around, even picked him up a few times he fell down and brushed off the mulch. The big kid even took Levi to the small slides and helped him up the stairs and down the slides a few times. It was such a sweet thing to witness, and I regretted my initial negative reaction to this bus of kids. After all, one day Levi will be a big, loud kid riding a school bus and I can only hope that he acts kindly toward those smaller than him.
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