When I pick the boys up from University School, at 2:45 PM in the afternoon, it is common practice for many of the boys and their moms to sit in the grass talking and coloring or having a snack, and then go climb a tree, or play ball. Quite a few of us stay late regularly.
The other day, one of my friends was hanging out with the group. She was approached by two women, and the next thing I knew she was in tears. I really didn’t know what had happened. Two other moms were soothing her, so I thought it best to leave it be, and find out about it later.
My son, Giles, was walking by, and noticed she was crying. Instead of acting like he didn’t notice, or coming to me to ask what happened, he looked her way, caught her eye and said, “Want to play ball? Want a snack?” Everyone burst into hysterics, including the woman who had been crying. He really broke the ice, and changed the tone of what was going on. Judging from the expression on his face, I would say, he was delighted, with his intervention.
My child had chosen not to ignore someone in pain, but chose instead to act, and offer her a bit of kindness, in her moment of despair. I was really proud of him. He had used both kindness and bravery in one small act.
Lisa J Lafave, PhD, MBA, ACC
A Single Mom By Choice Raising Surrogacy Twin Boys
CEO & Founder of Coaching Rocks, LLC
Written in My Little Brick in University Heights, Ohio