May I, Huh?

I learned something about eleven years ago. I carry the lesson with me still.

Here is what happened. On the day in question, I was very frustrated. That condidition is one with which I am quite intimate. My wife might claim (but don't listen to her) that the relationship is both perpetual and contagious to bystanders. But I digress. What I was frustrated about on this occasion was that for the umpteenth time, as I had tried to sit down on the floor beside my son as he watched cartoons on TV, he moved away from me. If I moved closer, he moved away approximately the same distance. This behaviour had been going on for weeks.

I was hurt. I was still very new to the Daddy business and I loved my son. He was old enough to crawl around on the floor but wasn't speaking yet, so he didn't actually tell me to get lost. Still, I got the message. Clearly, he didn't want me around. Why not?

On this particular day, I don't know why, I said to my son, "Zachary, is it okay if I sit beside you?"

Guess what happened. Yep, he looked at me with a little smirk, moved his left arm from its defensive position, and let me sit down beside him. Now, both content, we watched a Pingu cartoon on television together.

Even a little kid wants to be consulted.

Let's not take kids for granted. That goes for spouses too. And friends, lovers, neighbours... oh, let's just make a point of being considerate of everyone.

Asking permission is always a good idea.