This afternoon our doorbell rang and it was two kids, a girl about 10 years old and a boy about 5. I had never seen them before. They politely asked, "Can James play?"
Initially I froze. Besides our next door neighbors in Michigan who we knew their family (their father was a Baptist preacher, good people!), no kids had ever really come over out of the blue and asked to play. I was not used to this and didn't expect it for at least 15 more years.
Then, defensively, my inner momma-bear emerged. My heart started pounding.
"James? My 2 1/2 year old, James? How do they know his name? How does he have friends that I don't know about?? What do these kids want to do with him? What do they mean 'play'? What are they going to show him, teach him, say to him, make him do? Where are they going to take him? Why do they want to play with 2 1/2 year old? Where is the mother of these kids? Is that kid really eating a king size KitKat? No, James isn't going anywhere, he is staying right here next to me." These were my thoughts in all of about 2 seconds.
Calmly, I replied, "You can come in and play with James if you'd like, he is awake." Happily, they came right in and plopped down on the rug and started playing with the wooden alligator we bought in Egypt. They ended up staying with us for 3 hours!
It turns out that the kids met James at the compound swimming pool when Matt took just James one day when he woke up early from his nap. They seemed like nice kids so when they asked where we lived as they were leaving, Matt told them and it turns out they live right across the street. He never saw the parents, the kids were there alone.
The 'friends' scene is beginning for our kids, apparantly. Tonight, Matt and I decided a few things as ground rules for our home:
* You have to be nice to everybody, but only be friends with and play with other nice kids.
* When other kids want to play, sometimes we have to say 'no'. There is also a limit to how long they can stay and play.
* No playing on the Sabbath. It's a family day.
* If other kids want to play with our boys, they play at OUR house. The only exceptions are if we know both parents and have been to their home and we know their views on life and agree with them.
I feel so responsible for my children. As much as they can drive me CRAZY some days, I would not change them for anything. Today made me realize that I need to keep a positive environment around our kids whenever possible. I can be proactive about that. Right now I can totally control who they are around, for how long, what they are doing, and where at. And THAT makes me one happy momma-bear.
Initially I froze. Besides our next door neighbors in Michigan who we knew their family (their father was a Baptist preacher, good people!), no kids had ever really come over out of the blue and asked to play. I was not used to this and didn't expect it for at least 15 more years.
Then, defensively, my inner momma-bear emerged. My heart started pounding.
"James? My 2 1/2 year old, James? How do they know his name? How does he have friends that I don't know about?? What do these kids want to do with him? What do they mean 'play'? What are they going to show him, teach him, say to him, make him do? Where are they going to take him? Why do they want to play with 2 1/2 year old? Where is the mother of these kids? Is that kid really eating a king size KitKat? No, James isn't going anywhere, he is staying right here next to me." These were my thoughts in all of about 2 seconds.
Calmly, I replied, "You can come in and play with James if you'd like, he is awake." Happily, they came right in and plopped down on the rug and started playing with the wooden alligator we bought in Egypt. They ended up staying with us for 3 hours!
It turns out that the kids met James at the compound swimming pool when Matt took just James one day when he woke up early from his nap. They seemed like nice kids so when they asked where we lived as they were leaving, Matt told them and it turns out they live right across the street. He never saw the parents, the kids were there alone.
The 'friends' scene is beginning for our kids, apparantly. Tonight, Matt and I decided a few things as ground rules for our home:
* You have to be nice to everybody, but only be friends with and play with other nice kids.
* When other kids want to play, sometimes we have to say 'no'. There is also a limit to how long they can stay and play.
* No playing on the Sabbath. It's a family day.
* If other kids want to play with our boys, they play at OUR house. The only exceptions are if we know both parents and have been to their home and we know their views on life and agree with them.
I feel so responsible for my children. As much as they can drive me CRAZY some days, I would not change them for anything. Today made me realize that I need to keep a positive environment around our kids whenever possible. I can be proactive about that. Right now I can totally control who they are around, for how long, what they are doing, and where at. And THAT makes me one happy momma-bear.
1 comment:
Perfect rules! Wow. 2 and already playdates? He must be one cool kid!
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