My foster granddaughter learned a lesson in right speech this week. A friend of mine wanted to get together with her two granddaughters and my foster granddaughter, and when I suggested it (they have gotten together a few times before and had fun), my granddaughter wanted to hold off on accepting, because she was hoping her friend would invite her that night for a sleepover to see her baby rabbits. Perhaps her mother explained to her that waiting until the last minute was rude, or maybe my telling her mother I was uncomfortable saying my friend's plan was second choice for my granddaughter had an impact directly or indirectly, but when I picked my granddaughter up from school on Wednesday, she said she wanted to go with us. She may have checked with her friend and it was a no go, or her mother had a talk with her, or she realized she had to give a yes or no. I did not inquire.
I simply acted as if I was glad she was able to come, but it was no big deal, with no anxiety behind it on my part. On my own, I had decided to refuse the invitation that day if my granddaughter couldn't commit. I was too uncomfortable with promoting what I thought was rude behavior. And I was not going to even imply that my friend and her granddaughters were distant second place choices. That would have been hurtful speech. I was just going to say my granddaughter already had made other plans.
I'm grateful my granddaughter rose to the occasion, and did not hurt me or my friend or her granddaughters. We're going to the movies and for pizza, and what's not to like about that?! So all's well that ends well, and without any lecturing on my part.
No comments:
Post a Comment