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2010/06/11 04:03:09瀏覽665|回應2|推薦8 | |
These days Madison is into La La. La La's real name is Priscilla. She is a girl that Maddie has been hanging out with a lot this past school year. Every day she comes home telling me, "La La did this, La La said that." "Me and La La think it is so cool...." she would say. All she talks about is La La. When she mentions the name "La La", you can see her whole face lit up. It's amazing what having a good friend does to you. They make you smile. They make you want to go to school. They make you love your life. So, that's what La La has done to my little Maddie. Well, life is not all that hunky dory when you begin to realize that sometimes you need to give up something to maintain good friendships. This morning at the breakfast table, Maddie shared her little run-in with, of course, La La. It all started when Maddie discovered a cute snugly stuff animal at school. La La comes, she sees it, and snatches it away from Maddie's hands. "I can see La La likes it more than I do, so I let her hold it for a while." Maddie said. "Then what happened?" I asked and motioned her to eat her breakfast quickly before we leave for school. "She held it so long that I had to ask her to let me have it for a little while. " "Did she give it to you?" "Yah...but only for two seconds and she took it back again." now, her face frowned and with her arms crossed each other, you know she's pretty upset. "And then, she even named it Sparky. How come she got to name it, and I don't. I want to name it, too! " she protested. "Why didn't you say anything? That's so not like you, Maddie." her sister chimed in. She's right. It does not sound like the Maddie I know of. "Well, I thought she liked the stuff animal more than I did, so I just let her name it. " "That's very sweet of you to share and be considerate of others. That's great! "I tried to cheer her up. "But then La La said, ' Maddie, let's pretend Sparky likes me more than you.' I know she said this so she could hold the stuff animal for a long long time. " Her eyes were red at this time. Well, that La La girl was definitely pushing the button here. "Maddie, I tell you what, " her sister suggested. "This morning when you go to school, you are going to grab that Spot? Sparkly? or Sparky whatever, and when La La comes, you just start patting it and calling it 'Charlie' and say I love you or stuff like that.". Pretty good, Bridgette, for coming up with that strategy, I thought. But I'm afraid it's easier said than done. After I rushed them out of the house and dropped them off at school, this conversation at the breakfast table began to sink in. Madison is beginning to learn some life lessons here that even good friends have disagreements. Sometimes, when disagreements arise, you need to learn to work it out, or "agree to disagree". There are even times when you need to compromise to keep the friendship going. And for a six-year-old to realize that concept is not an easy thing to do. But she did it. She's always been a very strong-willed child. Born second in the family, she always competes for adult attention. So for her to swallow all that is tough. (And by the way, what's up with that "pretend-this- stuff- animal- likes- me- more- than- you thing" ? That's so not cool!) But Maddie is willing to give up all her wants for her friend because she values her friendship with her more than anything else( as of this morning). That's a success. After this summer, Maddie won't be in the same class with La La anymore. But there will be a lot more people at the new school. I hope she would carry that same gracious sensitivity and loving spirit when the next La La comes around.
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( 心情隨筆|家庭親子 ) |