My collection of favorite posts from the Humans Of New York and Love What Matters Facebook pages.
The Coolest Teens in the World | Love What Matters
"Oh my heart. Today was a day I will never forget. I've been looking for a Homeschool Group to begin connecting with in anticipation of schooling my just-turned 5 year old next fall. Today was a "trial" play date for the local group I found, wherein I would meet everyone and we would determine if we were a good fit for each other. My son was so excited at the prospect of making new friends. I arrived at the park and met a few of the other moms and immediately some began voicing their concerns about the teenagers who were enjoying socializing over on the swings. We were in a large park with structures and activities for people of all ages and their presence was not inappropriate or out of place. I met the moms and we began talking and my son wandered over to the teenagers, where one immediately offered him the swing she was sitting on. I encouraged him that the big kids might like some time to talk to each other, and suggested that he go play with the kids his own age, which was why we were here to begin with. I was not concerned with him being with the teens, but I thought they might not appreciate having a 5-year-old sidekick who likes to monopolize conversations. I made my way back to the other moms, where they continued to bemoan the teenagers' presence and were contemplating leaving the park. I suggested that the teens seemed well behaved and aware of the fact that they were at a park and were acting with respect toward the smaller children. For example, at one point I heard another mom express concern that her small children were playing lower down on a climbing structure, underneath where the teens were climbing. As soon as the teens heard her, they got down and moved, allowing the little kids to play in a way their mom felt was more safe. The play group decided to stay and the kids continued to play. A few other times throughout the time at the park, my son wandered over to the teens. They were always polite to him and engaged him, but, as our goal was playmates, I would encourage him to come back to the children his age. The playdate was an epic disaster that ended with both him and I in tears after multiple failed attempts on his part to get the children to play with or include him (there is much more to this story, and fault on our side too, but these children are not the subject of this post). I excused us from the group and we were on our way. As we left, I stopped to thank the teens for being kind to my son when he had tried to engage them. Having witnessed the interactions he'd had with the other kids, they were quick to console me and then one said, 'Hey! Can we play with him?' I assured them that I appreciated the gesture but they didn't need to. They insisted that they wanted to, and, after he declined both the slide and the merry-go-round, they asked him what he'd like to do. He enthusiastically said that he wanted to play 'Hide and Go Seek!' I watched for the next hour as five 17 and 18 year old students ran all over the park with earnest enthusiasm and no hint of irony, and made the day of the sweetest boy I know. Then I was blubbering all over again, but for entirely different reasons. I listened as they communicated with each other to make sure someone was always in charge of knowing where my son was and of making sure he knew where they were so he didn't feel lost. They talked to each other with kindness and respect. They engaged and weren't buried in their phones. They climbed trees, they ducked behind walls, they hid in slides, and they made my sweet boy feel like he was the most important person in the world. They talked to him and laughed with him, and were always respectful to him and his age. My son got tired of the game before they did. After an hour, he saw some bubbles someone else had and he was ready to move on. The teens thanked him for playing with them, but not before I blubbered my way through a heartfelt thanks. I learned that they were all Seniors who had early release that day and were just enjoying time together on a beautiful sunny day. A few had jobs working with kids at the local trampoline park, another works for his dad, and I'm sad to say I didn't learn much about the others. I asked if there was a way I could get in touch with them, because I wanted to more completely express my gratitude at their kindness. I knew I could write an "open letter" to the internet and hope they maybe saw it, but that wasn't enough for me. And what I really wanted to say was, 'Can you please give me your moms' and dads' phone numbers so I can call them and tell them what an amazing job they've done?' but, I realized that these "kids" were nearly grown adults, and made these choices of their own accord because they are kids of character, not because there were parents around to tell them to. I wished that I could hug them. One of them gave me his email address and I've been thinking all day about how to begin to write what I have to say in an email. Maybe one day when they themselves are parents who watch their children in pain, they will have a glimmer of the impact they had on my heart and on my son today. Whoever, and wherever you are, sweet, precious "kids," Mattie, Deven, Ryan, Lauren, and DeVonte from Paseo Vista Park in Chandler on March 23rd, thank you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. I hope my son grows up to be just like you." #LoveWhatMatters Photo courtesy of Jennifer Nicole
"Oh my heart. Today was a day I will never forget. I've been looking for a Homeschool Group to begin connecting with in anticipation of schooling my...
facebook.com
I love inter-age friendships so much.


