go away

At our Wednesday night church (different than our Sunday morning church, because who doesn't need 2 church families praying for you with 3 kids), after music class, our kiddos went outside to play. I loved watching S hanging out with some older girls and engaging without hesitation. My kiddos are growing up!

Then, the other girls ran off and I called to S to come over and not go inside with them. She came over and angrily told me that the girls had told her to "go away!" and she burst into tears. And I received my first opportunity to try to help my child navigate the social world. 

I knew this was a temporary pain and that she would get past it, but I did want her to experience the heartbreak and rejection while snuggled in my embrace. So, I let her cry a little. And I loved her. And then I told her that just because they didn't want to be with her at the moment that it didn't mean they didn't love her.  I reminded her that she doesn't always want to play with her little brother, but that doesn't mean that she doesn't love him. And I told her that sometimes our hearts will hurt. But we have lots of things that fill our hearts. 

And while it hurt my heart to see her hurt, I know she's now a little stronger. She will probably still be heartbroken the next time it happens, but hopefully she'll also be a little stronger until one day, when her heart is broken, she won't need my embrace and reassurance to pick herself up and dust herself off and move on.