Sophie and I were having a walk in our community garden this evening.
Just like any other evening, the neighbours' kids were out and about - playing to their hearts' content in the playground, around the fish pond, and pool area.
Sophie, having picked up a dried leaf from the ground, decided to offer it to one of the boys (he looked about 3-4) as a token of friendship (or whatever you call it). In her enthusiasm, she must have gotten a little too close to him and he wasn't comfortable with it. Consequently, he slapped her resoundingly across her face - much to my horror and consternation.
His mom rushed over to see what the matter was. Sophie didn't cry or retaliate, but looked shocked and stood stock still while I rebuked the boy as gently as I could (it was more like a "HEY, don't do that" although I was fuming deep down inside - what else could I have said, right?) and consoled my little girl. The boy's mom was very embarrassed and apologetic, as I would have been if the tables were turned. Her son, realising the gravity of the situation, turned back and looked sheepish. Our Sophie, so very forgiving and gracious, attempted to run after him again, still with the dried leaf in her hand. This time, I restrained her - probably because I was afraid that he would strike her again.
Shaken by the incident, I picked Sophie up and told her that it was time to go home.
We walked back to our block with the pitter-patter of running feet behind us. I, in my emotional turmoil, heard it, but ignored it for a while. After quite a distance, I decided that perhaps, I wasn't modeling to Sophie an appropriate response to the situation (after all, he was just a little boy), so I stopped in my tracks and turned around.
It turned out that the boy was running after us, trying to reconcile. His mom wasn't too far away, running in our direction (just in case her son caused more trouble, I suppose). "Mei mei is going home!" she told him breathlessly.
It was pretty sweet that the two children smiled and waved goodbye to each other. A happy ending. It felt like a... Korean drama. Maybe they might even grow up as friends.
Nevertheless, I was reminded of how important it is to teach Sophie that our hands are for loving... and are never to cause pain to another fellow human being.
4 comments:
Aww...aiyo kesian Sophie :(( what a strange reaction from d boy at first
Aww you taught her well. Children at that age, even for the boy, don't know better. I'm glad the boy's mother was very apologetic about the incident (you've be surprised at how many mothers here would shrug it off like it's nothing over here) and Sophie wasn't injured. If they do end up being friends, as they grow older, they'll have a good story to tell on how they became friends. :)
Indeed. :D
You handled it well.
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