He says "upspide down" instead of upside down. It always makes me want to sing,
Upspide down,
Boy you turn me
Inside out and
round and round
A few weeks ago while visiting the library, he really turned me inside out. There was a little boy in the children's section, and Aidan could not have been more rude to him. Aidan laughed in his face when the little boy introduced himself, and it did not improve from there. I decided the best thing for us to do was high tail it out of the library, so I gathered up the kids and our books and headed for the check out desk. While I was chatting it up with the librarian, Aidan wandered away from me, and next thing I knew he was back by my side and the little boy's mother was wagging her finger in his face saying, "You don't push!"
Could I just crawl into my library bag and die now? I was disappointed with Aidan, and I was also shocked that the little boy's mother decided to get in Aidan's face instead of mine. Now I know how little boys can be; I have a little brother and I've heard plenty of stories about George when he was a wee one. This wasn't our first altercation either.
The funny thing is I forgot about all of this until today. We were leaving the library and guess who I saw? From the look on her face, I'm pretty sure the little boy's mom recognized me too. She gave me a curt smile, and I barely eked out a hi. A few steps later Aidan said, "Is that the little boy I pushed?"
"Yes, it is."
"I really want to say I'm sorry to him."
So we turned around, despite the pit in my stomach weighing me down, and Aidan apologized to the little boy. Then Aidan added, "Do you want to be friends?"
Little boy of mine, you sure know how to turn your mother upspide down.
"Thug means never having to say you're sorry." U-Turn from Weeds Season 3
Aww. That's so sweet - not the first part, but the heartfelt apology that was his own idea. Love that.
ReplyDeleteI love that he came up with that apology on his own. Amazing!
ReplyDeleteMan, I feel you. I am always ten steps behind Benen the Aggresor. When he pops out with Benen the Apoligizer it kills me. I just keep up with my mantra that someday my spitting, hitting, crying child might just become a compassionate person. Might just. If I live through the highs and lows. Thanks for some perspective.
ReplyDeleteOh, my. Having been with you during the first incident, I wish I had seen the follow up. So sweet that he wants to be "friends." But maybe you won't see them at the library again or have to worry about another meeting ;)
ReplyDeleteWhat's the "sorry" to Luke for? who knows, right? cute picture, anyways.
Oh, the antics of the young at the library. I'm knee deep in overly excited children right now and Monday was a "naughty" day. When one is bad, the rest turn into sharks at a feeding frenzy.
ReplyDeleteI can understand why she scolded your son. I would have too, especially if I hadn't seen a parent around. At my library, kids will just walk in, or parents will drop them off and not stay to supervise. Generally speaking, there aren't usually parents to talk to.
I told a 3 year old to stop screaming the other day -- it had been going on for at least 5 minutes -- when his mom came out of the wood work and scolded me for scolding her son. However, it wasn't as though she was doing anything about it. Not to say you weren't, because you didn't see it happen, but still, I can see where she came from with that.
We just sort of one big communal family at my library, since it's the size of a peanut! Hopefully, they will be better behaved today!
Excellent and sweet ending to a not so sweet story...man those children of ours can really be exasperating.
ReplyDeleteExcellent too on the fact that you enjoy yourself some "Weeds"...one of my personal favorites!!
Okay, can I tell you how cool I think you are since you quoted Weeds??? You rock!
ReplyDeleteSniff! I have been on both sides, the mother of the picked on kid and the mother of the picker. Both sides are painful for Mommas, yes? His sign makes me tear up.
ReplyDeleteWhat amazes me is that there are people in the world that even little people just don't click with.
ReplyDeleteBut the fact that HE wanted to apologize, well, that's just huge! Yea Aidan!
oh--that sweet, sweet boy of yours
ReplyDeleteOh, I just want to give you a hug. We've all been there, right? I remember like it was yesterday when Wyatt, in all his toddler glory, walked up to Rebecca's BABY GIRL, and whacked her right on top of the head in greeting. Now that's a way to say hello! I wanted to die on the spot.
ReplyDeleteWe have to show each other grace and compassion, because our kids live in the moment and they do frightful things sometimes that we just can't anticipate. But amazingly, they also do **wonderful** things that we can't anticpate. Isn't that great?
That is the one of the sweetest stories I've ever heard.
ReplyDeleteOh how I feel what you have felt... When we have been out Hope can be a barbarian at times... and then others she can be so wonderful... It is like naughtiness seems to blow in on a wind... and out just as fast... I am sure his apology was very appriciated by the other little one... and who knows maybe they will become fast friends:)
ReplyDeleteshellys.hut@gmail.com
Yes, upspide down. The fact that he wanted to apologize is so sweet.
ReplyDeleteI was just wondering why you thought it was wrong of the other adult to say anything to your child? I would defend my own child against a bully wouldn't you? I am not timid about this and I would encourage other parents not to be timid either.
ReplyDeleteI have always been kind in my intervention, but I get my point across to the offending child. In the same vein, if my child was rude I was ready to shine a light for them to see also. I think it is right to defend as well as to admonish when the opportunity is there...and in each case it need not be loud, long or berating...then move on.
anonymous: being kind in intervention is one thing, but wagging fingers, getting in a child's face, and/or yelling or raising your voice at someone else's child - especially in the presence of their parent - is entirely another. your comment is very timely as i've had this conversation with other parents lately. i personally do not believe in disciplining children that are not my own. if they are in danger or causing harm i will intervene, but never discipline or raise my voice with a child that is not my own. if the child's parent is present, i leave it up to the parent to intervene.
ReplyDeleteour situation at the library was awkward and uncomfortable, and while i completely understand that the other mother was defending her own child, i wish she would have talked to me rather berate my son.