She sees no color, in other kids. Just someone to play with. "Where are my friends?" she asks, anytime we are alone at the pool or on a playground where there most certainly should be someone to play with besides mommy.
We're at SSI with my mom (enjoying her retirement) this week. I took Leah to the park yesterday, where it was just the two of us for a while. Then a little boy came over to play, on the playground- not so much with Leah, but she was ready to play with him. He wasn't white, wasn't clean, and wasn't really sweet, but Leah was ready to make a friend. She introduced herself, "my name's Leah" she said patting herself on the chest. We've been working on that. Now he's supposed to say "My name is . . " but he ran off.
So, apparently he didn't understand what she said, she chased after him yelling, "My name is Leah . . " stilling patting while she ran. It was precious. Finally at the top of the jungle gym, where the slides part ways, she tried to double slide with him, but he says "no, you slide there". Leah thought this was part of the game so she obeyed and smiled bigger than ever- she had a "friend" who wasn't friendly and wasn't playing with her. Then he shouts down to her as she reaches the bottom. "Now, I'm gonna kill you"
UM, WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY TO MY BABY? I reached down, scooped up Leah and trotted her off to the beach . . . away from this devil child whose very large momma was not to far off. I was afraid if I stayed any longer, I'd say what I thought to that little boy and then his mom would have literally killed me! I glanced at Leah's face as I carried her away from the playground- where she thought she was having a good time- and she was hurt. That little brat hurt my girl.
She didn't know what he said to her, but she heard his tone of voice and recognized my protective reaction. "Mommy, I'm sad". She said to me as we left . . . sad and tired and has no idea that there will be many, many children who will say and do things to hurt her along the way. And most of the time, I won't even be there to explain it away, or sugar coat it, or sweep her off to something safer. Am I really ready to send her to Preschool next month? Then who will protect her?
6 comments:
Aw. I thought the same thing as I walked Sarah into KINDERGARTEN this morning. I prayed that her teachers will protect her, and that no one will be mean or rude or scare my baby girl. It is so hard when you cant be there to watch over them all day, but you have to trust that they will be ok...it is hard!
I don't know that I would've been able to keep my mouth shut on that one!! You've got to let her go - you won't be there to protect her for everything...remember that song you sent me the lyrics of?
Miss y'all...
Hard to swallow, isn't it? Something similar happened to us at a public park-- Garrett wasn't big enough to do the monkey bars yet. A bigger (by at least 3 years) kids kept calling him , "Chicken" and "wimp." After about the third time where mom was just sitting on the bench chatting with her friends, my sweet husband said, "Stop calling him that. It's mean." The startled kid, who had obviously NEVER been corrected, ran off to mom, who patted him and continued her conversation.
k! that breaks my heart. and to know that it is only going to get worse!
i sit at the pool and watch T play baseball with older boys. sometimes i just have to turn away b/c he may drop an easy fly ball ... or swing and miss the ball one to many times for their patience level.
i just remind myself ... "Heather, he will never learn to how to fend for himself if you are constantly fighting his battles!" -- ugh.
hardest thing to do. you did the right thing. no need to let a little brat kid say that to your sweet girl.
proud of you.
H
Uuuugggghhhhhhh!!! I hate that! What a little turd! I'm afraid the teacher in me would have come out and I would have yanked a knot in that boy...even with his big mamma watching! How sweet that Leah is so outgoing! She will be great in preschool!
i hate that!
i have so much to say....but i'm not sure any of it would be appropriate for many reasons.
i do hope despite the jerks in life though, that she is able to hold onto her openness as long as possible!
sweet little doodle.
squueeeeeeeeeeeeze her for me!
xo
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