Good Monday morning...

 

… and reflecting on an awkward moment at a playground last week, where a toddler boy punched my toddler granddaughter in the face, I have a couple of observations worth noting, and I hope they prove inspirational.

It happened at the top of a slide, where three little ones were waiting to go down the slide.  I looked up to see the little boy push both hands into Malia’s face, and her reaction was filled with anger and tears.  I stepped in, rather awkwardly, and demanded an apology from the little boy… only to realize, that’s not going to happen!  So, I called for the boy’s father, who happened to be walking nearby.  After an unpleasant exchange of inquiry, “is that your son?” we had a decent dialogue about children, play, and forgiveness.  The little boy, at his father’s demand, did say, “sorry.”

While we grown-ups continued to chat, the little ones went on to play together without incident.  As I think about the exchange, I am reminded of an early childhood memory of my own when I was about ready to clobber my little sister, who was antagonizing me about who knows what.  I heard my grandma say, “No Max, he cannot hit her, boys don’t hit girls.”  Did my grandpa Max suggest that I defend myself?”  Grandma would have nothing to do with that!  And the rule was laid down for me for the rest of my life, “boys don’t hit girls.”

While it may be culturally challenged, I think it is the correct behavior to teach and to be learned by all boys.  The little boy who hit Malia in the face, I learned in the defense offered by his father, is the youngest of four, and whose older sisters find great delight in various forms of torture put on him.  So, “he is used to fighting back against his older sisters”, says the dad, “but boys don’t hit girls,” says this meddling papa.

I am glad I had this rather awkward conversation at the playground.  I realize that I am ready to pounce on any threat that comes to Malia, but there is a diplomatic and peaceful way to handle these teaching moments.  And the papa and the daddy had a good chat after an angry initial meeting, while the kids got over it quickly.

Resilience is a good quality in children, and I thank God that Malia and the little boy were able to put the conflict behind them and get on to the important business of playing.  I am also glad that resentment and early judgment did not impede this papa and daddy from what became a good conversation about kids and, well, the correct conviction that “boys don’t hit girls.”

For His glory,

Pastor Mike