It happened in a normal day, when my routine of the day was to collect my 2 grand daughters from their respective nursery and school.
On the day in question I had already planned what I would appropriately do so that I was ready for any eventuality that could happen during the performance of my routines. Right and everything checked and off I went.
What started to go wrong was when I decided to do what I thought would be appropriate. It did not, unfortunately and that created a situation.
My grand daughter aged only 3 has expected me to take the route which her parents usually take to pick Hope from her school. But I chose another route instead. This had upset her but she being of that tender age could only protest using baby language ie. cry. Here this grand dad of years of experience and could not read this message correctly. Oops!
This was lesson Number 1. Read a child's emotional expression correctly and do not blame them if you as an adult was wrong, the poor child cannot understand the reasons of an adult. I need to apologize to my grand daughter about this oversight of my judgement. Sorry Clare.
At school, when Hope said that she was cold and wanted to sit in the pram with the blanket I allowed her to do so without understanding that this was again another violation of Clare's right who was sitting on the pram earlier.
Lesson Number 2. I should not decide unilaterally to give the right of one child be it a toy or place or food to another simply because of a situation arising, in this case a child's complaint that she was cold. Instead I should have asked Clare if she minds exchanging place with her sister Hope. Again this was my wrong decision and I must apologize again. Sorry Clare.
When she said that she wanted to sit in the pram, she was denied her rightful demand. Instead I tried to explain that her sister needed the pram more because she was not having an extra layer. At that instant she took off her coat and immediately demanded her rightful place ie the seat in the pram. I was extremely stunt. Imagine a 3 year old child can react instantly to turn the situation in her favour. But I took it as an act of disrespect and a challenge. And so I lost my cool.
Lesson Number 3. In Clare's mind she would have thought that "if I take off my coat then I am at par with my sister, I am now entitled to my right to the pram." Again my decision was totally lopsided and I insisted that she should stand on the buggy board instead. Poor Clare she had to come home without an extra coat. I cannot forgive myself now that I have learnt this valuable lesson from my intelligent grand daughter. I would be called an old wise man if I did not do such an arrogant act. Today I can see how silly I can sometimes be. Clare I owe you a big apology. SORRY AGAIN CLARE.
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