What makes children very kind? I do not know but am happy to know that my child is kind and is aware of the necessities of others. The other night before her bed time she wanted to see something mommy’s Lappa (laptop) as is the practice for the past few days. I generally show her forwards of pictures most of which are animals, nature, trains, aero planes, rivers etc. She enjoys the natural scenes most. On this day while I was browsing thru the mails (I was not prepared what to show her that day) we came across a mail about AOL forwarding some 10 cents for every forward and stuff. The mail had the pictures of a Chinese girl (Qian Hongyan) who doesn’t have legs but who is always smiling. It talked about being grateful to what we have etc etc… Sam saw the girl and was surprised and tensed. So I wanted to clarify and educate and all that. I told her that this didi doesn’t have legs but still she is always smiling and Sam shud not cry for small things and all. But Sam’s worries have not ended. Finally sam told the girl in the picture “Didi, Samy has legs. You take Samys legs”. My cousin who visits us often over the weekends was so surprised that her Mouth fell open.
How many of us adults can say that??? Come take mine. May be Sam doesn’t know the consequences of she not having legs but the thought that the other girl is suffering and she needs to do something about it even if it means sacrificing her own legs she was ready. Finally I told her that Didi got artificial legs and showed her the picture many times and told her that it is possible that one can have artificial legs and walk normally like didi is walking. I told her that didi now has new shoes and her new legs wont hurt. Took a while to convince her but I am happy that Sam wanted to make sure that the girl is doing OK with her new legs.
How many of us adults can say that??? Come take mine. May be Sam doesn’t know the consequences of she not having legs but the thought that the other girl is suffering and she needs to do something about it even if it means sacrificing her own legs she was ready. Finally I told her that Didi got artificial legs and showed her the picture many times and told her that it is possible that one can have artificial legs and walk normally like didi is walking. I told her that didi now has new shoes and her new legs wont hurt. Took a while to convince her but I am happy that Sam wanted to make sure that the girl is doing OK with her new legs.
I do not know if I am right in showing the pictures to Sam as she is too young and lot of my friends told me that I am fool that I let ask Sam ask me too many questions. But I am a mother and I did what I felt is right for my child and I am not perfect.
7 comments:
No!!! It is a great thing that you welcome questions and curiousity. Sam will be better for it if she can have empathy for people, as it seems she did. It's great she can sympathize and want to share her good fortune. She is a cute kid, each story opens my eyes a bit more.
Thanks Shweta. This coming from a person like you (who accept people the way they are) means somuch to us (R and I).
Sometimes I do not know If I am doing the right thing but I know I cannot always be sure of doing the right thing and I need to go with my gut feeling.
Whoa.... superrb.... that too when it is coming from a 2 year old!!!!
Very sweeet...the spontaneous empathy and generosity. There's a lovely book by Tulika publishers, "Why are you afraid to hold my hand?" about differently abled kids...just bought it for my kids!
Nimmi!! You are doing a great job. I think it take guts to adopt a child . I think ur daughter is high on EQ from this age itself and the credit goes to you! I am sure she ll make u proud.
@Rithu . Thanks Kids are have better empathy than us adults and less selfih than us. What say.
@Starry. Yes, it was sweet but it took a lot of convincing that the girl is doing ok with her new legs. Whenever, you talk about books I miss my ex office (where the office used to be one floor above land mark book store). Gotta visit this weekend.
@Suchi, please dont say I am doing a great by adopting. May be I am doing an OK job by being a mom only time will tell. I dont want to maker feel me proud. All that we want is equip her to live a happy responsible life.
Hope sammy remains like this forever.. Too bad that we lean so much on our mind than our heart when we grow up. And i should say there is a significant role played by R and You to bring this kind of empathy in her.
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