My daughter got in the car today from school flustered. I looked at her and asked, “What?”
“Mom! Do you ever have a day when absolutely NOTHING goes like you believe it should?”
“Oh, Seiji,” I confess, “you have no idea.”
“Well, I tried to be the one who got along with everyone, Mom, but people were being left out, people’s feelings were being hurt. Some of the girls in my class kept whispering and it felt bad. Some of my friends are not making good choices and I’m starting to get mad at them.”
“What do you feel like you should do about it?,” I inquire.
“I need to meditate on that,”my wise one responds.
As her younger brother gleefully rattled on about his day, I saw my daughter pensively looking out the window.
Nobu finished with,”….and he ate a bug!” (The perfect finish for any conversation - my son’s seven.)
Seiji jumped in, “Mom, I want to ask the girl who was being left out to come over for a play date this Friday.”
I smiled and called the mother.
I know, as any mother does, that the painful lessons that come with any relationship don’t end in grade school. I know that my children will continue to fall down and hurt.
I smiled because I realize that my daughter’s recovery time is a lot faster than mine ever was. Great for her.
By Melissa Yamaguchi
Follow us on Tweeter!
