Because the world is listening.

"You're good with them."

This is what a person said to me in a queue today. She was behind me, watching and listening as I interacted with some little children who were ahead of me in the queue. They were there with their mother. The children, a boy and a girl were aged three and five respectively. I know because I asked. 

"You're good with them."


There's a reason for that I guess. Children are naturally curious...and children of the age of three and five have not yet developed that filter between what their minds are thinking and what comes out of their mouths. In other words, they are brutally honest. Adults would call them rude...and I watch their parents simply want to sink into a deep hole when they are brutally honest when I am around. 

So, I choose to take that brutal honesty and turn it into something that's going to benefit them, their parents and me...

And the rest of the curious onlookers within earshot...because they do listen you know. I have a captive audience.


Anyway, these two children were pretty gosh darn cute. I rocked up to the queue at the registers and they were there. They were chatting to each other, chatting to their Mum...saw me and decided to show me the owl soft toys they were holding and talk to me. I asked them if they were the owls from Legend of the Guardians...then we talked about movies they'd seen...and then the statement finally came...


Because it always comes as a statement...a statement of an obvious fact.


"You're little!"


Yes, I know. 


"Why?"


I don't know. My bones grew really, really, really slowly and I only got to be this big. Your bones grow fast so one day you will be bigger than me.


"Like my Mum."


That's right.


"Maybe one day your bones will grow again and you will be big."


Maybe.


"Do you like Lightning McQueen?"


And that's the way it can go. They get over it quick. I've told them what they need to know and they're satisfied. They don't want to be told to shush, or not to be rude. They're curious, just like little kids are meant to be. 


They will remember that they met me today...their mother will remember as well...and the thing I want them to remember the most is that not only was I little, but I was nice to them, I talked to them, I was friendly to them.


And not only that, but the other six to ten people waiting in the queue also heard everything and saw that I am friendly and that it is ok to ask questions. It's how you find stuff out. It's how ignorance and fear is snuffed out.


So of course I am good with them. The alternative wouldn't help anyone...especially me.