No two are exactly alike. Sure, they share similarities- life is just like that, but each child brings a pinch of her own flavored perspective along, and it is wise to remember this from time to time and to appreciate and even acknowledge these precious sparkles. Here’s one small example of the surprising perspective of a child.
While on vacation once, I stopped for gas in a self-serve station. The station was gross. Old, beachy, worn,dirty. If I had not been sitting on empty, I would have kept driving by.
It was Rachel’s day in the front, and she sat there, unusually quiet, just thinking and ruminating about our well spent week, I assumed. As I drove off, she murmured in a very thoughtful way, “ I just think that’s nice”. When I realized she was finished sharing her inner thoughts with me, I asked, “What’s Nice?”. “Clean bathrooms. That gas station has clean bathrooms, it said so on the sign, and I just think that’s nice.”
Friday, February 12, 2010
Acts of Random Kindness- preschoolers
Acts of random kindness:
One act of unexpected goodness goes a long way…
I was holding a summer session of Camp Redbird, a preschool camp, and I had to leave for one of my girl’s graduation ceremonies. The college students/camp counselors that were helping me went into a near panic when they heard they were about to be thrown to the dogs, but I gave them explicit instructions on what to do in my absence to ensure a successful and smooth afternoon. They trusted me enough to know that there was usually a method to my madness, so they followed my instructions to the letter. I think they are glad they did.
I had noticed the parks maintenance people working on trimming bushes earlier in the day. They looked overworked and very hot. After all it was summer, and it was quite sticky. I also noticed that these workers had a giant pick up truck. I’m talking institutional size, commercial, REALLY BIG. I noticed that there was one really tall, rugged guy that looked like he was in charge. I was certain this was not one of his better days, and it took quite a bit of courage to approach him. (Oh, the things we do for our children!) I asked him a really stupid question. “Wouldn’t it be nice to have some help ?” He just glared and sweated at me. “I can guarantee you every bit of these trimmings will be picked up for you, if you will just hear me out and do exactly what I say.” His curiosity got the better of him, and he tilted his head and said, “Yeah?” “Go into this center, and follow your ears. Let them lead you to a room full of rambunctious preschoolers. Just lean in the doorway and wait to be noticed. When you are, wipe your brow and say these words, “ Gee, if I just had a few really strong and handy kids around, I could get my dump truck loaded in a hurry.” I continued with, “Before you ever finish your sentence, I suspect you will have all the help you need, and all you have to do is let them put the branches in the dump truck. They would really love seeing that big truck and they are very good helpers.” He looked at me, and he just kept looking.. I imagine he thought I had stepped out of my mind for a few minutes , but he heard me out. I said a quick goodbye and I was off.
When I returned later that day, the counselors couldn’t stop talking about how fun the kids had loading this guy’s big truck. They really got into the job. I hoped the man had enjoyed his momentary relief. It wasn’t until months later, though, that I realized what an impact this event had had upon him.
I came in to work one day in early fall, and the center director said, “Melanie, James wants to know what kind of flowers or bulbs you want out front this year.” Who is James, I wondered. Usually the parks people have a grand seasonal landscaping plan, and they meticulously put it into action in just the right way. Far beit for anyone to interfere or get in their space during these planting frenzies. Our parks and community center areas do look incredibly good, so their hard work pays off. Flippantly I said, “Oh, I guess pansies would be nice.”
The next week, when I arrived at the center, there were 300 multi-colored pansies waiting to be planted “Any way and any where the children would like to put them.” It doesn’t take much to bring out the human spirit in us.
One act of unexpected goodness goes a long way…
I was holding a summer session of Camp Redbird, a preschool camp, and I had to leave for one of my girl’s graduation ceremonies. The college students/camp counselors that were helping me went into a near panic when they heard they were about to be thrown to the dogs, but I gave them explicit instructions on what to do in my absence to ensure a successful and smooth afternoon. They trusted me enough to know that there was usually a method to my madness, so they followed my instructions to the letter. I think they are glad they did.
I had noticed the parks maintenance people working on trimming bushes earlier in the day. They looked overworked and very hot. After all it was summer, and it was quite sticky. I also noticed that these workers had a giant pick up truck. I’m talking institutional size, commercial, REALLY BIG. I noticed that there was one really tall, rugged guy that looked like he was in charge. I was certain this was not one of his better days, and it took quite a bit of courage to approach him. (Oh, the things we do for our children!) I asked him a really stupid question. “Wouldn’t it be nice to have some help ?” He just glared and sweated at me. “I can guarantee you every bit of these trimmings will be picked up for you, if you will just hear me out and do exactly what I say.” His curiosity got the better of him, and he tilted his head and said, “Yeah?” “Go into this center, and follow your ears. Let them lead you to a room full of rambunctious preschoolers. Just lean in the doorway and wait to be noticed. When you are, wipe your brow and say these words, “ Gee, if I just had a few really strong and handy kids around, I could get my dump truck loaded in a hurry.” I continued with, “Before you ever finish your sentence, I suspect you will have all the help you need, and all you have to do is let them put the branches in the dump truck. They would really love seeing that big truck and they are very good helpers.” He looked at me, and he just kept looking.. I imagine he thought I had stepped out of my mind for a few minutes , but he heard me out. I said a quick goodbye and I was off.
When I returned later that day, the counselors couldn’t stop talking about how fun the kids had loading this guy’s big truck. They really got into the job. I hoped the man had enjoyed his momentary relief. It wasn’t until months later, though, that I realized what an impact this event had had upon him.
I came in to work one day in early fall, and the center director said, “Melanie, James wants to know what kind of flowers or bulbs you want out front this year.” Who is James, I wondered. Usually the parks people have a grand seasonal landscaping plan, and they meticulously put it into action in just the right way. Far beit for anyone to interfere or get in their space during these planting frenzies. Our parks and community center areas do look incredibly good, so their hard work pays off. Flippantly I said, “Oh, I guess pansies would be nice.”
The next week, when I arrived at the center, there were 300 multi-colored pansies waiting to be planted “Any way and any where the children would like to put them.” It doesn’t take much to bring out the human spirit in us.
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