The NKOTB

Children can teach adults so much, and my little corner of our apartment complex is no exception. Little A is one of the youngest children in our little block of matching, pastel-colored, Spanish style apartment buildings. His speech is coming along, but he still is very difficult to understand, and most often can only string two words together. He can't say his own name, it sounds like "mon" when he says it, but I have told one little 4 year old his name. Somehow every child (there are about 6 older kids between ages 4-8) knows A's name and says 'hi' to him every day.

These children told A happy birthday, (I think they saw the happy birthday balloon in our kitchen through the window). They wished him Happy Easter and asked him about egg hunting and if he received an Easter basket. They show him how to kick a soccer ball, and blow bubbles his direction if they are playing when we walk by. Two doors down, there is a little 4 year old boy that leaves a plastic blue chair outside his door so that A can sit in it for a rest when we walk to the mailbox. According to their mother, they have outgrown it, the only reason it is there is my son. Isn't that precious?

Why can't we all be friendly and conversational like these kids? No prejudice, no snobs, no bullies, just plain friendly.

The picture below is from March, Aiden drawing with sidewalk chalk in front of our door. You can see the blue chair in the background.