This isn’t meant to offend anyone, honestly, but have you ever noticed that some little kids cry, well, pathetically? All kids are adorable, we know that, but think about it, some kids are cute when they cry and others, well, simply are not.
So one afternoon, late in August last summer, my next door neighbor is having a backyard family reunion where relatives congregate in little groups of familiarity, smiling and toasting their drinks at loved ones whose names they can’t recall but they say, oh my how you’ve grown to all the children. And there are so many of them running around! So I’m lying peacefully in my hammock, tolerant of the noise since it is an important and happy family event and even happier that I did not receive a “we feel awkward that you’re sitting over there in your hammock by yourself so why don’t you join us” invitation. I rehearse my response which is no thanks I’m fine really just in case when suddenly I hear a wrenching howling. I ask myself is that a child crying or a goat with its head stuck in the grill? I jump up from my comfortable hammock and run next door to assist and there I see this little boy, maybe four or five years old, screaming his head off in front of this man who I assume is his father – it would have to be. Who else would get that close? The child doesn’t appear to be hurt but the howling indicates that something is definitely amiss. The father appears helpless and glances frantically for any woman to assume the responsibility of motherhood. The howl gets louder and the child’s face gets, well, less attractive, much less. Frighteningly so! He just wants something. But WHAT? WHAT DOES HE WANT? Now I must remember not to shout at this kid since I’m not officially invited to this party so I start to analyze the situation. Did this child practice this type of crying or is it natural. Hard to believe it could be natural, but nonetheless. Just think when little kids are in the bathroom forever and you wonder why it takes them an hour to wash their hands. They’re not washing their hands – they’re practicing their crying! Getting it down to perfection. So this is the deal, I figure. Cute crier gets hugs and kisses – pathetic crier gets whatever he wants, just to get him to shut up. Genius!
(c) 2012 Linda Stone Cohen All Rights Reserved
Remember that no amount of money can purchase grace, wisdom and humility. Until tomorrow…
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