A Day with Friends

Today started off as any usual Tuesday. I got up and got the kids up and ready, while Carl got a few more winks with Asha (they both love to sleep in). I dropped the kids off to school, and then went to go meet my friend Laura for coffee. We had a very lovely chat. After my coffee date, which was really a tea date, I went home to get Asha ready for pictures. I was heading to Sears with her for her six month portraits. Even though she was feeling drowsy and a bit stuffed up, she still had it in her to smile for the camera. It was only noon once we were finished, so off I headed to Target. I have to admit, I really have missed that place. I could go every week, and find something there that I "need" that is such a "deal". It was 12:40 and I needed to go and pick up the kids. I felt a bit foolish picking them up in the van, when we live a block and a half away from the preschool. But I didn't have enough time to drive home, unload Asha, pack her into the stroller and make it before 1:00.

When I picked the kids up, Joel came home empty handed because he finished his work at school, but Kezia had some papers and a very pretty white flower. It wasn't real, but looked very nice and so I asked her where she got it. She said, "Manuel gave it to me". I asked her if he was a boy in her class and she replied, yes. Kezia told me that Manuel had brought a flower from home for her and wanted to give it to her because he was her best friend. Well, I thought that was just the sweetest thing and I told Kezia she was a pretty blessed girl to have a good friend like Manuel. And for the rest of the ride home, she went on and on about how nice it is to give things to your friends and that she was thinking of all the things she could give away to her friends, "my jeans, and my headband, and my red shoes, and my puzzle, and maybe a card, or some stickers.....".
.

.
Well, we got home and I gave the kids a snack. Then I decided that since they both had naps yesterday, it wasn't necessary for them to sleep today. So outside they went. Kezia wasn't that happy about going outside. You can't take your blankets or Miss Teddy outside and there are no dress up clothes out in the yard. What's a poor girl to do? Joel on the other hand was thrilled to play outside. There's tons of sticks, rocks, bugs, mud, sand, water to play with; and that's just in front of our door....there's WAY more out back!!! Joel, Kezia, and Joel's friend here in the court were out playing and I was enjoying some time with Asha when I heard a blood curdling scream. I listened and immediately recognized it as Joel's. Now usually when Joel is screaming it's because he's been wronged or he's royally ticked off, but this scream was an injury scream. Oh no, what have those boys gotten into now.

I quickly ran out and just about ran into Joel who was running home. I was shocked to see that he was completely covered in sand, wet from head to toe and his face was dripping with blood. Panic set it because I didn't know if he had smashed his nose or cut open his face, or maybe knocked some teeth out.

I brought him inside and tried to console him as well as calm myself. I got a cloth and started to wipe at his face to figure out the source of all the blood. I was relieved to see he had all his teeth, and then found that the majority of the blood was from his lip. He settled down enough to say that he and his friend were outside playing with the little kiddie pool out back. The boys had put rocks and grass in there a few days before and it had collected rain water as well. Joel was peering in trying to "fish" when his friend pushed him from behind and sent Joel flying head first into the rock pond.

Carl came home at that time, since he was on his break from class, and confirmed that Joel did not need stitches on his lip. Whew! Once I got him cleaned up, I headed over to speak to his friends' mom. I wasn't looking forward to it because I knew she would be embarrassed, but I knew that I needed to talk to her about it. She was very understanding and apologized over and over. I was glad that the exchange went well and walked back home to put a movie on for the kids. About 15 minutes later, Joel's friend, his mom and his dad came over to apologize to Joel. I was very proud of Joel that he came over to the door and told his friend that he was okay now and that he forgave him. I was glad that he was so quick to forgive.

Later on in the evening, the family came over with peace offerings in the form of hot chocolate mix, pictures for Joel, and some potato wedges. It was very gracious of them. I don't think I have ever had someone make that much of an effort to bring an apology to ensure complete peace in the relationship. Sure, Joel got a bit banged up, but kids horse around and get hurt. I, and Joel, both knew that his friend did not mean for him to get hurt. And when all was said and done, Joel just looks like he has some weird rash on his nose and mouth.
.


Today started off to be a typical Tuesday but as Joel and Kezia learned from their friend encounters, turned out to be quite a unique day.