scribblechic

Last night, before going to bed, you paused on the landing of the stairs and said you made a new friend at school.  Enumerating on your new friend’s intelligence and kindness, you said you felt lucky.  I feel lucky too.

When you were little you would introduce yourself to others, children and adults, with a sweetly naive promise to be their new best friend.  It was the verbalization of your toddler self waddling onto adult’s laps or holding other children’s hands; loving openly and completely.

There came a moment in Kindergarten when you began hiding from peers.  Moments of disappointment or rejection among classmates caused you to guard your feelings more closely.  You maintained a couple of close friends, children that would stand beside you through thick and thin, but you stopped reaching out to new children for friendship.

The more you closed yourself off, the more I missed the little boy with the open heart.  I waited, sometimes beside you and other times in the background, hoping a day would come when you would open up and let down your guard.

Last night, listening to you extol the virtues of your new friend I gave thanks that your vast heart could still open up and welcome someone new.  Your new friend is lucky to have you, too.

Love,

Mom

Tagged: Friendship, Son