This week, I had the privilege of witnessing a magical event;
The day was beautiful,
crisp and sunny,
and my class, as well as many others, enjoyed the weather outside on the playground.
As I supervised my children, scanning my eyes back and forth across the tot lot, another teacher called for my attention. She told me to look over to the area by the sandbox.
There, I saw my daughter
having her back rubbed by a 4 year old boy.
He then rubbed her head, sweetly.
She smiled and beamed.
He then began teaching her how to play catch with him.
He would throw the ball to her, she would miss, he would rub her back and tell her it was OK and then give her some instruction, with a smile.
She would throw the ball to him to, and each time she did, she would giggle and he would praise her.
This went on for fifteen minutes.
Fifteen minutes,
which in Toddler is 7 and a half years.
It was incredible.
They played and played, not because I was there watching, but because they were enjoying each other.
And then, he hugged her,
and after he did he came running over to me.
I was prepared to thank him,
to compliment him on his kindness,
but he interrupted my thoughts
as he leaned in to me and said, “I have a feeling she may have a poop.”
It was the best thing ever.
And so, I learned many things while watching my daughter and her new friend in those fifteen minutes,
not the least of which being that my fears about my daughter and older boys are far from being over.
In fact, I have a hunch that they have only just begun.