She gets it

“Muffle, muffle, I don’t care,”

“I’ll pull down your underwear.”

My jaw dropped open as I heard these words being hollered by a lot of kids on the bus as Maren got off her school bus this afternoon.  I was shocked.  This bus carries only kindergartners.  Really?  Bus drama.  Oy.

As we walked the short walk home hand in hand, she told me that she had a substitute bus driver today.  (Aha, I thought.  There is part of the story.)  I said, “What was that song that the kids on the bus were singing?”

She was quiet a few steps before answering, “I fink (think) it was an inappropriate song.”

My heart soaring, I said, “Why do you think it was an inappropriate song?”

Thoughtfully, she replied, “There’s words in the song that aren’t polite, and it’s kind of mean and rude.”

“Hmmm.  I didn’t hear the whole thing, but it did sound rude.”  I asked, “Did you sing the song too?”

She looked up, horrified, “No Mom!  I didn’t.  It was inappropriate.”  And then she rolled her eyes at me that I should even ask her the question.

“Well, Maren, I’m glad you didn’t sing it if you thought it was inappropriate.  That was a really good decision.  I’m really proud of you.”  I squeezed her hand and tugged on her until she grinned up at me.  Together, we smiled at each other, confident in her ability to handle a tough situation (for a five-year-old) in a good way.

I loved this conversation and this learning experience.  I loved this little piece of tangible evidence that she gets it.

Be kind.  

Make good decisions.

Do the right thing even when no one else is.  

It would have been perfect if she hadn’t rolled her eyes at me there in the middle.

But, she gets it.  Win.  Win for all of humanity, you know?