Compassion

My Molly is a girl of compassion. I cannot take any credit for having taught her about it. She just is- compassionate.

I shared this true story wtih my sister-in-law the other day.

Molly's kindergarten class was almost directly across the hall from Aidan's special education classroom. She would check on him daily and he enjoyed seeing her throughout the day.

One day, Molly left her classroom because she could hear her brother crying across the hall. She walked into his classroom and asked why he was crying and wanted to know if "anyone was mean to her brother". Once she was reassured that he was OK, she was able to return to her class and receive her reprimand for leaving the classroom without permission.

Aidan's teacher was amazed that she could hear him and discern that it was Aidan's cry. Molly's teacher was amazed at her determination to protect her big brother.

I've asked Molly about this and she seems puzzled and admits to it in a very casual, these-adults-are-so-weird manner. Puzzled in a way that leads me to believe that this has occurred more than once, it's not just a one time thing. Puzzled because in her mind there was no other way possible to react to hearing her brother's cry.

There are some character traits that a person can't hide, they are so innate that it would be impossible to deny it. Parts of a person that can't be separated out from the person, personality traits that are a person. Compassion is Molly's. It's an incredible part of her that she cannot hide or pretend doesn't exist.

Molly and Aidan waiting for the bus on her last day of kindergarten.

Comments

[Holly]

Happy Birthday to Aidan! I enjoy reading your site!