wisdomalways5

--- In [email protected], Kendrah Nilsestuen <carebear-
79@...> wrote:
>
> Then proceeded to take her visibly upset son (who
> obviously still wanted to swing) out and went toward their car. I
> felt terrible.
>
> All this time I was negative about having to entertain or tend to
> other people's children because they weren't doing it, I never
> stopped to consider a parent may not want my help!
>
> Oh well, better luck next time.
>
> Kendrah
>
I think that you did the right thing in helping the child- since he
wanted to swing he probably would have been upset at leaving anyway. I
bet the change of attitude felt good though.

wisdomalways5

--- In [email protected], Kendrah Nilsestuen
<carebear-79@...> wrote:
>
> <<I think that you did the right thing in helping the child- since
he
> wanted to swing he probably would have been upset at leaving
anyway. I
> bet the change of attitude felt good though.>>
>
> The change of attitude really did feel good. I'm surprised at how
> irritated I was. I just needed to process those feelings and move
on
> to making changes in order to view things positively. If I'm not
> wasting energy being frustrated with a less than attentive parent,
I
> can put it toward playing with the kids! That sounds like a lot
more
> fun:)
>
> Yes, you are probably right. He would of likely been upset
leaving
> the park anyway. I just can't help but feel like I probably made
it
> 10 times worse by giving him a taste of the fun he could of been
> having if his mom didn't have to leave.
>
> Kendrah
>
But you gave him a few seconds of happiness that you cared about
what he wanted. Thats got to count for something. If the parent is
around you could say something like "ask your mom if I can help you"
if no parent being activly around then I would just help.

[email protected]

> Yes, you are probably right. He would of likely been upset leaving
> the park anyway. I just can't help but feel like I probably made it
> 10 times worse by giving him a taste of the fun he could of been
> having if his mom didn't have to leave.


Ah, but you gave him some sweetly generous attention. That *does* count for something. And he already knew what fun he could be having - that's why he wandered over to you <g>.

The mom tried to make her problem into your problem, which was an unfriendly thing to do. I wouldn't feel bad for being a bright light in that little guy's day...

Robin B.

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[email protected]

> But you gave him a few seconds of happiness that you cared about
> what he wanted. Thats got to count for something.

Weird, I just wrote almost the identical thing!

Robin B.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]