A Week of Goodbyes...

San and a friend had a problem on the playground. So I brought them together to talk about what was wrong. That's where it got comical. They couldn't talk about the problem because they could only talk about what each had done to the other. It took about 15 minutes of "that's not what we're talking about right now" until I realized: they weren't going to forgive each other until they both admit that they had wronged the other. General sorry's weren't working. They had to get specific. There's something in the acknowledgement of wrong-doing that does wonders. So San admitted he called his friend a bully, his friend admitted that he had pulled San's shirt. You know what? At that point they were smiling. THEN, I gave them a secret word that only they could use with each other when they have hurt each other. If one is playing too rough, the other just has to say the secret word, and they both know they need time apart. Do you know what the secret word was? Guess. What would San's secret word be???? It was, of course, Bionicle. They are happy as clams. Too bad the adult world can't get it that simple. Kind of like the book "Everything I Needed To Know I Learned in Kindergarten." I can think of some adults that just need a bit of time with a good kindergarten teacher!
There is also a sense of security when you have a friend that is so good, that the two of you realize when you need time apart, and aren't offended. You know that you've been together too much and are getting on each other's nerves, and you can just look at each other and go "space", then you have a good laugh, spend some time apart, and then get together to down a box of generic Wheat Thins, and talk about your adventures while you were away. That's a good friend. They are few and far between, but are so fun to relish when you have them.