A few years ago, I was with a close woman friend in a grocery store in California. As we walked between the1, we became aware of a mother with a small boy moving in the opposite direction. The woman barely 2 us because she was so bored at her little boy, who kept on pulling items 3the lower shelves. As the mother became more and more4, she started to yell at the child and later began, to shake him by the5.
At this point my friend spoke up. As a wonderful6of three and founder of a kindergarten, she had probably 7 once in her life treated any child so badly.
I 8 my friend would give this woman a solid mother-to-mother talk about9 herself and about the effect this behavior has on a child.
However, my friend said, "What a10 little boy! How old is he?" The woman answered11, "He's three." My friend went on to 12how curious he seemed and how her own three children were just lie him in the 13, so interested in all the wonderful14and packages. "He seems so bright and intelligent," my friend said.
The woman had the 15in her arms by now and a shy smile came upon her face.16 brushing his hair out of his eyes, she said, "Yes, he's very smart and 17, but sometimes he wears me out." My friend18sympathetically, "Yes, they can do that; they are so full of19. But that is what makes him a kid." The woman20with approval.
As we walked away, I heard the mother speaking more kindly to the boy. "We'll have your favorite macaroni and cheese this evening," she told him.
