Friday, April 11, 2008

The Boy Next Door

Right now, we are loving Cranbrook. On days like today, where it felt like spring has arrived with the beautiful sunshine and crisp wind, one couldn't ask for a more uplifting kind of day. We spent most of the day outside playing and get this .... playing with the kids in the neighborhood. A few times when we met new kids, when Kaelen introduced himself, we would hear the typical reply "Oh ... you are the new kid next door to ..... "

It was blissful really. Watching the big smile that came across Kaelen's face as he eagerly tried to impress his "new best friends" by laughing and showing them all of his toys. While Kaelen is still the youngest kid on the block, he is keeping up relatively well with the older boys on the block. And bless their little hearts, most of them are super kind to Kaelen and are always encouraging him to play with them whether it is hockey or basketball.

It is a dream coming true for me. I have waited for this day it seems like forever to have the luxury of hearing excited screams and laughter outside. To have kids run around in my yard and neighbors yards having the most excellent adventures that their imaginations allow them to have. And, as I did witness today, it is only a matter of time before hurt feelings come forth because older kids can only play with young ones for so long before one of the older ones has to become cruel. Thankfully, Kaelen remained blissfully ignorant to the comments from this one boy even if it did take all of my will power not to get involved and verbally strike back to this boy. As Kaelen and I walked into the house for dinner, he was excitedly talking about how wonderful his day was and I was silently wiping away the tears for the hurt feelings in the future.

Aside from that one incident, it couldn't have been a more perfect day. Kaelen is tuckered out in bed with a smile on his face and Masyn is probably dreaming of bubbles seeing as us two girls went through two bottles of bubble juice today while sitting on the lawn. Isn't spring so great?

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

It is so hard to not say anything when really you want to smash the other child to smithereens! It's just part of life I guess. I'm glad the new neighborhood is working out so well.

Goofball said...

sounds like perfect childhood. I also grew up in a street with other children to play with and those adventures are still highly treasured memories!

Jenn said...

Sounds lovely, glad to see things are working out.

Jenn

sari said...

I think it's wonderful that you've got such a great neighborhood full of kids now, it really makes a difference! Our old neighborhood didn't have many kids, but now we really are loving where we are.