Friendships

Pondering this topic these days because of the attachments being fostered by my kiddos.

I have written about our neighborhood before.

Things have gotten a bit better since those days, I am happy to report. Action Man refuses to take any (ahem) sh*t from anyone, and will usually remind his brother and sisters that they should leave whenever anyone decides to be nasty.

For this, I am grateful. It shows a maturity on his part, and a willingness to stand up for his siblings. And, unfortunately, a much-needed lesson learned that sometimes kids can be mean.

At least he doesn't have to experience this on a daily basis. I am grateful for that as well.

The tricky part comes when you need to impart a notion of temperance.

(sigh... seems like a new post label is in order, eh?)

Yes, even in regard to friendships.

My kiddos have been enjoying the friendship of the little guy down the street. He's been coming over to play in the evenings lately and had even asked if he could come over every day after school this week to eat all of our snacks wait until his parents come home from work. He doesn't like to be home alone. My Mama heart sorrowing, I said of course! And he spent a fun afternoon here Monday.

But yesterday.

Yesterday his mom brought him home and then returned to work, and he never. came. over.

Oh! The wailing and the grinding and the unending gnashing of teeth!

My children were so very upset and hurt and angry and I'mnevergonnaplaywithhimagain and oh-is-that-him-coming-now? ...NO!?!?

argh.

Giving the little guy the benefit of the doubt, I offered a few plausible explanations as to why he didn't come to play... while holding a few other reasons back.

Like, maybe he's already tired of us? I mean, we are an imposing bunch. To a youngest child of three, our house is a perpetual romper room rivaling the chaos of Chuck E. Cheese on a rainy Saturday... Besides, how many episodes of The Backyardigans can a 10 year old endure? (bad hormone day... 'nuff said)

So, we circled the wagons and listened to books on CD, played with Legos, and used the building blocks. Not a bad day if you ask me.

I know that come 3 pm, when the little man gets home from school and trots on over, all will be forgiven and forgotten in the anticipation of a joyous afternoon romp.

In the meantime, I think my kids learned a good lesson.

People need their space.

And that is OK.