I recently spent some time with a dear friend and her daughter. It is always enlightening to watch other parents interact with their children. I really learn a lot just by watching and listening.
On this particular evening, it was late and my little friend was being a normal two-year old. She was off in her own little world playing in her own adventure, paying little attention to her mother and me. Of course, she’d come over intermittently to ask a question or give an update, but for the most part, she was in her own little world. Thankfully, we practically had the little café all to ourselves, which is nice when you’re balancing coffee time and mommy time.
Inevitably, as it happens when a child grows weary and no longer wishes to do as you ask them to do, my little friend started “arguing” in two year old fashion with her mother. I watched as my mommy friend practiced lovely patience and kindness. I watched as my two-year old friend practiced independence and defiance. My mommy friend tried, but to no avail, her little girl was just not listening. So, a firm swat to the rear end was handed down from mommy to daughter.
Heartbroken, my little friend faked a pitiful cry. She looked up at her mommy, eyes wide with the sweetest countenance on her face.
“Kiss it,” she said.
“I don’t kiss spankings,” said my mommy friend.
I could see the wheels of thought turning in her head.
“Can you kiss I’m sorry’s?” asked my little friend.
My mommy friend looked over to me, hiding a huge smile from her precious daughter. Of course, my littlest friend received a kiss on the head and a hug and with that-- she was off to continue playing. Our evening was over shortly after that, as our coffee time and mommy time would have ended badly had we tried to make my little friend stay out much later.
Ever since then, I’ve been thinking about the question.
“Can you kiss I’m sorry’s?”
I don’t know. Can you?
No comments:
Post a Comment