Out of the Crowd

One of the kids new favorite series is The Berenstain Bears. Never one of my favorites--though one of Aunt Banana's, as I recall--I hadn't realized they were so lesson-based, even preachy. But mostly, it's preachy in a good way, or at least one in line with most of my parenting philosophies. When the kids were getting a bit souvenir-focused on spring break, we reminded them of the Berenstain bears book about the "gimmies." And they've also been fascinated with the book about the in-crowd.

Except this morning, before school, Sis was concerned about being out. "Mommy, there's a kid at school who doesn't play with me. I want him to. But he doesn't." Sniff. "He has another best buddy." Double sniff. What to do? I suggested she keep trying and asked if she wanted me to ask the teacher for ideas (like, does this little friend have a favorite play area that Sis could join in?).

And when I picked her up this afternoon, she and said friend were playing together as his mom and I walked up. Amazingly, he then told his mom that Sis had said that she was allowed to have playdates and could she please please please come over right now? I was floored, having just related the morning's conversation to the little friend's mom to see if she had any insight. And she'd said that he talks about Sis a lot. And so we've agreed to schedule a playdate for next week.

I wish all social problems were so easily resolved. There will come a time, sooner than I'd like, that moms and playdates and running around at recess together won't fix it.