Kids just being kids…
I took this pic yesterday of the boys playing with some of the neighborhood kids.
Jonah didn’t really care for a mask, but he had fun none-the-less.
Every time one of the neighbor kids knocks on the door to ask Jonny to play, my answer for Jonny is based on if I can go outside with him or not.
Many times, if I am working, I will have to say “no.”
Jonny is 10 and is perfectly capable of playing outside by himself. He understands the rules of playing in the neighborhood. “Be respectful of the neighbors property. Don’t go into neighbors houses without permission. Don’t wander past the mailboxes. Look both ways before crossing the street. Watch for cars and get out of the road if they are coming.”
So why do I need to be outside when Jonny goes outside?
Because every time Jonny goes out to play, Jonah will go outside as well.
And Jonah does not understand the “rules…” or rather, Jonah still needs help FOLLOWING the rules.
So I will go outside as often as I can to keep an eye on Jonah.
He doesn’t always play with the other kids, but he always wants to be involved with whatever his brother is doing. He wants to be close to brother and his friends. He wants to run around with them, even if he doesn’t say anything.
He wants to be included.
So often I assume Jonah just wants to play by himself “in his own world,” I don’t realize that he also craves the same camaraderie and friendship his brother does.
So I try to accommodate as best I can. Even if that means I have to stop Jojo from pulling up the neighbor’s flowers, or tossing river rocks into their yard. Even if I have to physically carry him out of the street when a car is coming or chase him on his bike to make sure he doesn’t ride past the mailboxes and out of the neighborhood.
I try to let Jonah play outside as much as I can, even if it’s not always a great experience with social interaction.
It’s experiencing life.