The End of Innocence

N.C. Wyeth - Jodie and the Fluttermill

Yesterday at the library, Josie went out to the little playground. There was a group of slightly older kids running and playing and she was inspired by their antics to climb the ladder and go down the slide all by herself -- over and over--'like a big kid' she told me. This was a first, as last time she refused to slide from the top. A victory.

All this while, she was very aware of the other kids and at some point approached a little boy who seemed to be about her age. I was on a bench (where she had told me to sit) watching and couldn't hear what she said but I suspect it was, "Will you play with me?"

And the little boy hit her.

She was stunned at his reaction -- as was I. He hadn't hit her hard and she just stood there for a moment then turned and went back to the slide where she sat down, evidently struggling not to cry. I started toward her but the boy's mother had seen the whole thing and she immediately swooped in and carried him over to Josie and had him apologize. 

A little later, Josie came to me and said she was ready to go inside. I told her that sometimes kids did dumb things and I was proud of her for not crying. And she told me, "But he was sorry."

Learning experiences. 

Addendum: I suddenly realized that Josie was modelling her playground experience on one of her favorite books--in which the little girl goes to the playground and finds kids to play with. Josie had insisted on wearing her boots yesterday--a puzzling choice in this heat, but the girl in the book wears boots. And the mama sits on a bench, staying out of the play.