Compassion

Blythe is four. Newly four. Today when I dropped her off at school, her "clique" waved frantically at her to come join them on the ellipse (a blue circle on the floor of the room used for calming the kids and general gatherings).

Well, my Blythe takes a minute to warm up...even to her best friends for the moment. She didn't go over right away, it seemed that she was taking in the mood of the room. The girls ran over,

"Blythe, Blythe, come sit with us. *A* isn't playing with us today."

I thought it was an odd comment. And then I followed Blythe's gaze. Straight to *A*. She was sitting away from them, lips poked out and face resting on her balled fist. Not happy.

As a parent, I only HOPED Blythe would seek *A* out and find out the hullabaloo before joining her little friends. That she wouldn't subject *A* to the ostracism I sensed going on. Did I mention that she's four and the others are five?

So, Blythe ran over to the ellipse and sat on the outside of the clique. Not the place her friends held for her.

I had to leave, but I wanted to stay. I wanted to see how the drama would unfold: Would *A* make amends if amends were called for? Would the clique let her back in? Would Blythe act on her own accord and do the right thing??? It's worse than General Hospital with all the kiddie politics.

Needless to say, I'm glad I witnessed it. We'll have something to talk about this weekend...compassion.

Did I mention that they're 4 and 5 years old!?!?!?!