Walking away is not an option... dialogue must prevail.

"A good listener tries to understand what the other person is saying. In the end he may disagree sharply, but because he disagrees, he wants to know exactly what it is he is disagreeing with."
- Kenneth A. Wells

"I do not want the peace that passeth understanding. I want the understanding which bringeth peace."
- Helen Keller

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Worried... but proud

First off - I need good healing vibes for Chicklet from the bloggosphere.

Before the end of the last period, my Chicklet's class (a combined 5th and 6th grade class) heads out to help the kids in kindergarden get to their buses (so no child is left behind?). So yesterday was no different. But there was a hitch. As Chicklet was running around in the big kid's playground waiting for the little ones, she twisted her ankle. It's sprained.
We'll be going to the clinic to have it checked out later on today. Icing and elevation did nothing for the swelling yesterday and she's home from school.


So please send her some good vibes, m'kay?

I think she's hoping for crutches. She already mastered the finer points of wheelchair racing when visiting her grandmother before Mom passed away.

Have you ever needed crutches? Borrowed a classmates crutches and fooled around and tried them out when you were in school?

Second...
I have a cool kid.

As I've said, Chicklet's in the 5th grade. Last week in English class (Chicklet goes to school in French and English is taught as a scond language) she learned that one of her classmates observes Ramadan. So yesterday morning, I'm guessing after mulling it over for a bit, she asked me if it would be ok if she lived a day like her classmate i.e. fast during daylight hours. What she gathered from her friend is (and I guess there are different meanings of the fast of Ramadan) that it's a small sacrifice when there are poor people who go without all year long.

How am I supposed to argue against that? I can't. So... as Chicklet is recovering from her sprained ankle, we'll find out more (may as well try and learn something while she's out of school...) and have a day of fasting this weekend.

Maybe if our kids are open and willing to learn about each other and we can avoid polluting their minds with hatred we'll watch them lead us towards Peace and Understanding. God knows we're doing a half-assed job of it.

I have a cool kid.

20 comments:

Bud Weiser, WTIT said...

You do have a cool kid. You've dome well as a mom!

Charles Gramlich said...

You gotta love that natural innocence and curiosity. I hope her ankle gets better soon.

Desert Songbird said...

You DO indeed have a cool kid. She learned from the best - her mom.

I hope her ankle heals quickly.

Christo Gonzales said...

french school, trying ramadan...I would have to say you both are pretty cool

Christo Gonzales said...

oh...lots of ice and elevation on the ankle to keep the welling down....good luck

Fortune Cookies said...

Kudos to your parenting! You do have a cool kid! I hope her ankle feels better soon! I remember being on krutches for 6 or 8 weeks, due to a knee injury and it was NO FUN AT ALL! Especially since 1st period was upstairs, 2nd period down, third period upstairs, then to lunch...downstairs, fourth period? you guessed it, upstairs again! Oh, that was hell on ...sticks!

Dana said...

Yes you do have a cool kid! Healing thoughts heading north!!

Ron said...

Absolutely Anndi!!!

Sending Chicklet some GOOD healing fibes right away!

{{{{{{{Chicklet}}}}}}}}}

And WOW...I think it's incredibly AWESOME that she has the desire to experience a tradition from one of her classmates!!

And equally as AWESOME that you support it!

Your last paragraph on this post said a mouthful of TRUTH...cause I totally agree!

Thanks, Anndi!

Jay said...

Hope the ankle is just a sprain and there's nothing more. But, crutches can be fun and she will get lots of sympathy from people. So that's cool too. ;-)

It's good for kids to be open to other ideas and willing to learn about other cultures, religions etc.

Akelamalu said...

You certainly do have a cool and very thoughtful kid!

I'm sending Reiki to your chicklet's ankle - hope it's nothing worse than a sprain. x

Brian o vretanos said...

Ouch...

It'll be interesting to see how she copes with a day of fasting - I'm sure Helena wouldn't manage it - she can't go for two hours without eating ;-)

CrystalChick said...

Healing thoughts for your sweet Chicklet!!

Slyde said...

good vibes to your little one comming your way..

Anndi said...

Bud: Thanks... We've tried to broaden her horizons. But it's all to her credit that she keeps it going.

Charles: When she went to daycare as a toddler, they would celebrate the holidays of different cultures. When came Chinese New Year, she was determined to eat her "chinese macaroni" (don't ask) with chopsticks. After a few tries all the other kids gave up... but not my girl.
Thanks for the get well wishes. It'll take a while, but there's no major damage, thankfully.

Songbird: She talks the talk and walks the walk. She was born with a good heart. I just encourage her kindness.
Thanks for the good thoughts.

Anndi said...

DB: I went to grade school and high school in French, it's what we do here. She's curious about other cultures and religions.
Thanks for the advice. We're doing the elevation and ice... Chicklet just wishes it was ice cream. LOL

Fortune cookies: Thank you, but I know the goodness comes from her heart.
I was on crutches in university and had to walk uphill in sleet and snow (but only one way)... it sucked. Luckily, Chicklet might not need them for as long.

Dana: Thanks and thanks! :)

Ron: Chicklet and I thank you for the healing thoughts.
She's a curious kid and cares about what makes people who they are.

Jay: There's no tear, just stretched ligaments. She had a classmate on crutches a few years ago who underwent an operation on a foot that was crushed by a tractor when she was three... so I guess the help she gave will come back her way now.

Akelamalu: I've been blessed with an angel.
Thank you for the reiki, it helped when I was zombified!

Brian: I've sprained my ankle before... and ouch is right!
I won't hold it against her if she gives up LOL

Crystal: Much appreciated!

Slyde: Thanks sweets!

Vinny "Bond" Marini said...

I always knew she was cool...hope the ankle heals quickly

Dianne said...

You have a cool kid :)

Hope the ankle is just a sprain.

Katman said...

Firstly, tell Chicklet to keep her chin up. She sounds like one in a million.

Secondly, well done you for your parenting. What a relief to hear of parents who are not insulated in a rose tinted world and are open to assisting their children explore our wild and wonderful world.

Ramadan is something that should be considered more, especially by us Christians. Have you noticed that we now tend to identify Lent as nothing more than a holiday? When I grew up in Ireland in the 1970's, Lent was observed properly.

Travis Cody said...

Glad to hear that the ankle isn't serious. Crutches can be cool, but only for about the first 10 minutes or so. Then they become a pain in the backside.

Anndi said...

Bond: Of course you did Uncle Vinny! A Pink Floyd fan is cool *wink*
We hope that too!

Dianne: No fractures or torn ligaments! Yay!
She rocks.

Katman: Thanks for the well wishes and for the kudos. I can't discourage acceptance of others as I wish it for all.
No matter what religion or whether people observe the rites associated, what really matters in the end is that we were good to each other.

Travis: Thanks. I know all about the annoyance of crutches. They really do suck.