comfort of strangers

When I'm in line at the store, I am generally keep to myself. I'm not a Chatty Cathy with the other patrons. For the most part, I despise small talk, mainly because it's superficial to me. There is a part of me that just wants to observe others, and take everything in. When this silence is broken, my wish is that it's short & sweet. Writing is more my forte, not speaking :0) (hence this blog!).

Anyways, the other day I was at the grocery store with my daughter. Thankfully, it was a pleasant experience (toting a young child to a store is always a gamble, and thank G-d, the world was aligned just right at that moment). As part of keeping my amazing child busy & mentally stimulated, I give her jobs in the store. One of which is to help load the items in our grocery cart onto the conveyor belt (is there a more technical term?). Most of the time, this works like a charm and the people in line usually find it amusing. This time, the woman in front of us was not only amused, I could tell she actually appreciated my child. She was probably in her mid-60's....very casually dressed, and all smiles. She commented on how it's so important for children to be involved and helping with the shopping. "It strengthens their math skills...their language skills..." Wow. It was nice just to be validated. She explained me to that she was a first grade teacher. I wasn't surprised. I could tell that she valued children for who they are: learning, growing beings. I wish I could always be that aware and cognizant of the wonder of childhood.

I know that parents (including myself) get so caught up in the stresses of life, that we forget that kids need to be in their magical world. They are not little adults and do not have the same brain as us. Don't make them grow up before it's time. This innocent stage really doesn't last very long. Let them be silly, and be silly with them. Learn with and from them.

Of course, I say this now. But I hope I don't forget I do believe in this, even when the wind has long been taken out of my sails.