Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Wandering Along the Path: Right Speech

Today I pick up my foster granddaughter from school.  I've been letting her choose what we do, and was relieved last week when she wanted to bake at my house.  Today, though, I'm going to have to exercise a bit of guidance, as it's our daughter's birthday and I must get my granddaughter home in time to rush back, change and be ready for an early pick up to go to the restaurant.  Usually, I give over the afternoon to her, and even if initial aversion comes up, I flow with her plan and end up enjoying it.  I'm curious about her interests and opinions, and we talk when we're in the car about her plans and how school and chorus and piano are going.  I try to de-pressurize everything.  After all, she's had a full day at school and then chorus rehearsal. 

I've learned so much from taking this tact of giving her control over our time together.  I've been educated about rabbits, dogs and many other creatures.  We've drawn countless pictures together and made many presents, sewing some on my sewing machine.  And I've seen her go from a baby who lost her dad to cancer, to a toddler, to a kindergartener, to a preteen 5th grader.  She has a new dad who has adopted her, a three year old sister, a new house, school, life.  I've seen her miserable and filled with joy.  I was with her when her dad called to say her mother was in labor and to come right home.  I taken photos at countless concerts, shows and softball games. 

I had an impulse to help that has given me infinite rewards.  I definitely want to keep going with that flow that took me to an amazing child.

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