The little boy who sat next to me was looking intently into my face. Nothing subtle about it. So I smiled at him. He asked me if he could play my game.
Now he was about 4 and couldn't spell. I asked him what letter his name began with and he answered with "D" and we tried to build words that included "D." Then he asked if I had any other games. I had just begun to load Angry Bird for him when his mother got up, grabbed him by the hand and dragged him to the door, even though their stop wasn't for a few minutes. Mom never made eye contact with me. She never spoke to her son.
I was being very patient with her little boy. He initiated contact. I didn't ask him name (just his first initial). I never told him my name. I never touched him. I don't know why she was so upset with me.
I also don't know why she didn't interact more with her son. It's probably easy for me to judge -- after all, I'm not a mom myself and I don't know how exhausting a lad like him can be. But his interest in my game showed an interest in letters and, by extension, words that I hope she encourages.
Let me just say that if I was exhausted, or whatever, and someone was interacting with my child (which happened often with Matt because of his personality), I would be thrilled and look on with a sense of pride or affection or something that my child has the ability to connect with people. Of course, we watch closely who, what and where but mom's have a sense when things are just fine. That's really too bad!
ReplyDeleteCould have been over paranoia.
ReplyDeletePeople can be strange. My youngest son introduces himself to EVERYONE and tells them his name. I try to stop him and constantly apologize that he is bothering people. If anyone ever talks to him I thank them!
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