In our little jaunts to the local playgrounds, I’ve met some lovely mums. One lady in particular, who also has identical twins (girls) along with her eldest, a 4 year old, Miss P.
After much SMS ping pong and failed attempts to meet up, we finally managed to get together for an ANZAC Day BBQ.
Yeah, can you imagine ? 5 kids – a 4 year old girl and 2 sets of twins at the age of 2.
What were we thinking ???
But we had an awesome time especially as Miss P became firm friends with the twinlets.
The other day, we bumped into them at the playground. As if no time had past since the BBQ, all 5 children instantly played happily together. The entire time, Miss P – the ever protective older sister – not only paid close guarded attention on her twin siblings but also our boys.
When it was time to go, the boys kept waving to her while repeating, “Bai bai, P…Bai bai P…”
Knowing that they don’t do this for everybody, the extra effort in the goodbye was showing special affection for their friend.
Opening the gate for us to leave, I suddenly noticed Miss P chasing behind me. Unable to open the childproof lock, her little face was squashed against the steel bars, tears rolling down her eyes.
Only seconds earlier she was smiling away at the boys.
“Train…boy has them. The boys’ train…He won’t give it back…” she sobbed.
Completely confused, I couldn’t decipher what she was trying to tell me. Yet, I couldn’t disregard her genuine distress.
Miss P grabbed my hand and dragged me over to a group of mum and toddlers, where one little boy in particular was holding one of the twinlet’s toy trains.
Then, it all made sense.
I politely explained the situation to the boy’s mum, who in turn, gently persuaded her son to hand back the train.
While giving me a warm hug, I thanked Miss P for being so kind and thoughtful. Her sobs soon subsided.
This little girl’s deep concern for others touched me.
Wouldn’t it be something if we could always put our own interests aside to fight for what other’s hold sacred ?
Have an earnest intention to see others happier than ourselves, without judgement and assumptions.
A 4 year old inadvertently showed me that true humanity surpasses simple good will or mere selflessness.
It’s the courage to reach out and actively stop whatever hurts our neighbour. Not just our closest and dearest.
To know that it’s in our own capacity and potential to create a better, safer, more comfortable world for them.
It took a 4 year old to remind me.
Whether your own or someone else’s, what lessons of life have children taught you lately ?
Joining Jess and the gang for this week’s IBOT. See ya there…