"I need attention!" said smiling 11-yearold tonight. I don't know when or why but years ago our family started saying, "Do you need attention?" before tickling, poking, wrestling... the questionee. 11-year old thrives on rough-housing. Tonight's request was really a request for a willing wrestling partner.
"Thank you for making dinner. May I be excused?" As explained to my children, even if they didn't like what was served theyneed to politely acknowledge the effort that was extended on their behalf. Point even better understood when they started cooking some of the meals.
Years ago, as a newlywed, I asked my husband to tell me a specific compliment. He complied by stating a rephrase of what I had said. I told him I didn't want a rephrase I wanted a word for word repeat of what I had said. He looked incredulous and asked if it would mean anything if he simply repeated my statement. My reply, "Oddly, yes it would." So he repeated, word for word.
An 8th grade boy's band teacher gives him a new nickname each month. Each month the boy makes sure to tell me what the name is (Ralph from "Wreck it Ralph" for April.) I hope the teacher knows how important she is to him.
14-year old girl hides behind her hair, She hides behind doors, She hides in trees - all the time hoping to be seen. I told her not to hide too well. She told me sometimes she can be in a room of people and still not be seen. :(
I live in a cul-de-sac teeming with little kids on scooter, on bike on foot. They are not so careful about watching for cars so I try to be extra careful in watching for them. This past week as I was backing the van out of my driveway I was surprised to see not a little one but a teenaged boy in my path. I waited for him to move but he did not budge. After some moments of waiting I turned the wheel more sharply and backed out keeping a careful eye that the boy was safely out of my way. Later that day my high-schooler told me that earlier that day the teen boy had asked my son what I thought of him. My son said that he told the teen that I did not think of him enough to have an opinion. It made me wonder if the skateboard parking was a means for attention - and if so, what type?
The Sunday after Spring Break my friend, who had been away for the week, looked my direction in church. Our eyes met and she smiled before looking away. Her smile made my day - to me it was a happy, "Hello friend!".
A smile, a hello, an acknowledgement of effort and existence. Even if rough-housing is not your forte, at some point we all want to say, "Hey, right now, I need attention."