Jun 8, 2023·edited Jun 8, 2023Liked by Nicci Kadilak
Flash back to the 80s. We had moved into a neighborhood that was built in the 50s. We were the young kids that had moved into an area that was mostly owners that were original buyers. My wife and I were in our early 30s. Most homeowners were in the 60s with children in their 20s just out of school. Talking to one of the 20 year old boys and he mentions he wants to buy a new car. The conversation is taking place in the late fall. I commented “Why buy a new car going into the winter? If you bought it next spring you would have a whole year to get use to driving it before the winter months and difficult driving conditions.” I get a positive reaction agreeing with my thought.
A couple of days later the father, who we had developed a friendly relationship with me mentions to me, ”I have been trying to convince my son not to buy a car until the spring. You come along and say the same thing and now it is his son’s idea to hold off buying a new car.” His father was in his middle 60s. The difference was I was not the authority in his son’s life .I was not a parent in his sons eyes. Yet I was raising a six year old and a one year old at the time of the conversation. Nobody likes somebody who has the authority to tell us what to do. Now I am a grandparent to a four year old who I provide childcare to and find myself being told”NO I do not want to do that!” The total stranger at the airport was not the person with the authority to tell him what to do. It is all about the presentation. “Hey kid, did you see a strange dog around here?”. NO! “Hey little boy/girl will you help me find my lost dog?” “You can help me by riding in my car around the neighborhood to look for my lost dog.”
Here’s to the airport moms and paying it forward! 💛 Also, why is it that the toddlers can be so easily consoled by strangers after making us look like we can’t control our kids?
Hurray for airport moms and dads! Great story Nicci. I wanted to comment also on a earlier Note you had asking if anyone played piano. Did you wind up getting any good sheet music? I started to write a reply but at the time my wifi was being wonky and it didn't go through.
But I was going to suggest getting some easy student versions of the classical hits. You can always find inexpensive books on Amazon and the arrangements sound deceptively impressive for something that anyone who had lessons as a kid can sight read right away no problem! Instant gratification ☺️ Also any Burt Bacharach, Coldplay and other compilations of piano based artists with great melodies!
The thing about these types of situations is that they’re so easy to do, and yet so hard at the same time. We always tell ourselves that people want to be left alone and not bothered, and so we don’t do anything and do our best to ignore what’s happening or tune it out. But all it takes is someone new trying to connect with the kid on human level and that can sort of reset things. My wife Allison is great at this in situations like that. It’s something I admire since I tend to be the one who defaults to giving people their space.
Flash back to the 80s. We had moved into a neighborhood that was built in the 50s. We were the young kids that had moved into an area that was mostly owners that were original buyers. My wife and I were in our early 30s. Most homeowners were in the 60s with children in their 20s just out of school. Talking to one of the 20 year old boys and he mentions he wants to buy a new car. The conversation is taking place in the late fall. I commented “Why buy a new car going into the winter? If you bought it next spring you would have a whole year to get use to driving it before the winter months and difficult driving conditions.” I get a positive reaction agreeing with my thought.
A couple of days later the father, who we had developed a friendly relationship with me mentions to me, ”I have been trying to convince my son not to buy a car until the spring. You come along and say the same thing and now it is his son’s idea to hold off buying a new car.” His father was in his middle 60s. The difference was I was not the authority in his son’s life .I was not a parent in his sons eyes. Yet I was raising a six year old and a one year old at the time of the conversation. Nobody likes somebody who has the authority to tell us what to do. Now I am a grandparent to a four year old who I provide childcare to and find myself being told”NO I do not want to do that!” The total stranger at the airport was not the person with the authority to tell him what to do. It is all about the presentation. “Hey kid, did you see a strange dog around here?”. NO! “Hey little boy/girl will you help me find my lost dog?” “You can help me by riding in my car around the neighborhood to look for my lost dog.”
Here’s to the airport moms and paying it forward! 💛 Also, why is it that the toddlers can be so easily consoled by strangers after making us look like we can’t control our kids?
Hurray for airport moms and dads! Great story Nicci. I wanted to comment also on a earlier Note you had asking if anyone played piano. Did you wind up getting any good sheet music? I started to write a reply but at the time my wifi was being wonky and it didn't go through.
But I was going to suggest getting some easy student versions of the classical hits. You can always find inexpensive books on Amazon and the arrangements sound deceptively impressive for something that anyone who had lessons as a kid can sight read right away no problem! Instant gratification ☺️ Also any Burt Bacharach, Coldplay and other compilations of piano based artists with great melodies!
The thing about these types of situations is that they’re so easy to do, and yet so hard at the same time. We always tell ourselves that people want to be left alone and not bothered, and so we don’t do anything and do our best to ignore what’s happening or tune it out. But all it takes is someone new trying to connect with the kid on human level and that can sort of reset things. My wife Allison is great at this in situations like that. It’s something I admire since I tend to be the one who defaults to giving people their space.
Wonderful!