Green Comfort From A Sensitive Boy

Last night, there was some rough-housing in our home, perhaps for the First Time Ever, and amidst all of this excitement, Madeleine somehow got a bit hurt - probably mostly inwardly - and was crying about it.  At that point Daniel did something entirely new.  I had just turned out the lights, so we could all sleep, and Daniel asked me if he could turn the light back on "so I can give Madeleine two dollars."

Why two dollars?  He explained something like, "I thought it might help make her feel better."  Daniel understands feelings-adjustment quite well.  And of course he was right.  He also volunteered, "Maybe you can save up for a Barbie doll."  I never thought I would see Daniel encouraging Madeleine to acquire another Barbie, of all the most girlish of things, not to mention giving her money toward that end.  I was really moved.

Madeleine was properly intrigued by the back of the dollar bill,  unfurling each one, as one would do with dollar bills which had just belonged to Daniel.gently and attentively.  She pointed, on the back of one of the bills, at the pyramid with the eye on the top of it - something you don't really see every day, at least in real life - and asked me who it was.  Not what, but who.

I gave very conscious recognition to Daniel's wonderfully self-styled act of compassion, but Madeleine said something even better, and something I'm not sure I've ever heard her say to the lad:  "I love you,  Daniel."

(August 28, 2012)