I walked my kids & and a neighbor kid to school this morning. Walking back, toddler in stroller, loaded down with helmets and scooters, looking like a burro, I saw another neighbor kid scootering his way to school. He's a 2nd grader, I know him because my daughter and him are in the same grade and had the same teacher last year.... and because when he comes over to play in the cul-de-sac we live in he is the only kid that just walks in to our house and opens our fridge to help himself. =)
Reminding him to ask first, or tell him "I'm sorry sweetie, I don't have a treat for you today" is something that happens often. When you have over 1/2 a dozen kids playing those reminders can make you feel a little like a broken record, to say the least.
Sometimes this kid works the last nerve on my broken record... know whatta mean???
back to the story...
I see him on the opposite side of the street riding to school and I say "Good Morning young sir, Have a great day today" to which he stopped and replied with a mouth turning upside down and a shaky voice "I guess I could've had a good day if my lizard didn't die this morning."
It was like I teleported across the street. I threw the brakes on my stroller, knelt down and made him get off his scooter so I could hug him. I told him it would be okay and that his lizard went to lizard heaven, and becuase of where we live it would be easy to find another pet lizard.
He said "thank you Mrs. Armstrong"
I think the hug made me feel better than it did him. It felt like there was nothing I could say or do to change how sad he was or make his day better. I wanted to let him rummage through my fridge and give him all the treats he wanted. But I couldn't. I realize that, unfortunately, this is a part of life, even for a 2nd grader.
He scooted away with a tear stained face.
I hope he comes over to play today.
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