The other day, Brian took Stella to the park. It's been chilly here, but we jump at the chance of a clear and dry moment on the swings. So Stella chose to swing on the bucket swings that day specifically for Papa's bombastically high pushes. And since she is already pretty fascinated with spaceships, the moon and, of course, the stars, she loves flying with Papa as they pretend she's an intergalactic Space Girl.
So all is well until a little kid showed up with his grandma. He immediately headed for the bucket swings (since he's well aware of their superior thrill and safety... toddlers aren't stupid; they know how to totally max out an experiences). Now I'm sure this kid's grandma thought she was doing the right thing (don't we all?) and I'm sure she had some valid reason for her comment, but she loudly announced to her grandchild - and our perceptive and observant Big Kid Scout - that "No, those swings are for babies."
Oh, no she didn'.
Brian noticed Stella became quite reserved in an instant. She stopped chattering and turned her head to this woman with a steely glare. And for the next fifteen minutes, as her Papa dutifully pushed his wee Scout on what we now refer to as the rocket swings, Stella quietly but determinedly said to the woman, "I'm a big kid." "I'm a big kid." "I"m a big kid."
The funny thing is, the woman was oblivious while Stella was pretty irked all day. But despite the fact that it pains both us to see Stella struggle with this kind of challenge, we were both crazy proud of her for saying her peace. "I'm a big kid." "I'm a big kid." "I'm a big kid."Because that's half the battle in this life, right? Responding to the various forms of bull that cross our paths in a way that prevents us from feeling like we've been pummeled. And while we'll have to eventually explain to her that some people will probably never truly listen to or, for that matter, care about our feelings, the importance of expressing them nevertheless is immeasurable.
So all is well until a little kid showed up with his grandma. He immediately headed for the bucket swings (since he's well aware of their superior thrill and safety... toddlers aren't stupid; they know how to totally max out an experiences). Now I'm sure this kid's grandma thought she was doing the right thing (don't we all?) and I'm sure she had some valid reason for her comment, but she loudly announced to her grandchild - and our perceptive and observant Big Kid Scout - that "No, those swings are for babies."
Oh, no she didn'.
Brian noticed Stella became quite reserved in an instant. She stopped chattering and turned her head to this woman with a steely glare. And for the next fifteen minutes, as her Papa dutifully pushed his wee Scout on what we now refer to as the rocket swings, Stella quietly but determinedly said to the woman, "I'm a big kid." "I'm a big kid." "I"m a big kid."
The funny thing is, the woman was oblivious while Stella was pretty irked all day. But despite the fact that it pains both us to see Stella struggle with this kind of challenge, we were both crazy proud of her for saying her peace. "I'm a big kid." "I'm a big kid." "I'm a big kid."Because that's half the battle in this life, right? Responding to the various forms of bull that cross our paths in a way that prevents us from feeling like we've been pummeled. And while we'll have to eventually explain to her that some people will probably never truly listen to or, for that matter, care about our feelings, the importance of expressing them nevertheless is immeasurable.
4 comments:
Right on, Stella Scout! I hear you, you are a big kid!
Reading this made my day.
You tell 'em, big kid!
Go Stella! Don't let anyone tell you you're something you're not!
Obviously, this one hit a nerve.
I hope that steely look she is giving in the photo is to the oblivious grandmother.
xo
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