My daughter was grocery shopping with me recently. On one of the aisles, we found an elderly man who had his walker inside the cart as he did his shopping. He was trying to reach something on the bottom of the shelf. His body didn’t quite work the way it did when he was younger. It was difficult for him to reach the bottom shelf. In the process of doing so, he knocked several boxes off. I asked “R” to help him replace the boxes. She complained that she was shy and she didn’t want to do it. But I asked her to go anyway.
Later as we were leaving the store she was taking charge of the cart. Like every young kid, she moved along at a fast pace. She nearly collided with an elderly lady trying to leave the store. I apologized. Then pulled her back and asked the lady to exit in front of us, chiding my daughter about watching where she was going.
I pondered these experiences later that day. Realizing that I needed to sit down with my daughter and explain the “why” we watch out for and help elderly people. She hadn’t been overjoyed over these experiences.
I sat her down and we talked about how that old lady and that old man were once a young like herself. Time is going to go faster than she thinks or realizes now. Someday she would find herself in their shoes, pushing a walker to get around, gripping the cart tightly for balance, finding it hard to pick things up off the ground…
At first, she didn’t believe me! This made me laugh. The young never believe they will become old. I certainly didn’t. But as we talked about it further, I think she understands now. We need to be kind because we never know when we are going to find ourselves in the place of others needing that same kindness and consideration. Whether we are young or old we can always use a little help now and then. I hope to teach her to be the kind of person who looks for ways she can help others.
I remember thinking when I was younger that I would be that way forever. It’s not until you are older and you see your own parents getting older and less able to do things the once did that reality kicks in. It’s great your daughter has a better understanding now. Thanks for sharing with #TriumphantTales, do come back next week.
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It’s a difficult concept to grasp. I’m 35 and sometimes forget that one day I will be elderly and in need of help. Thanks for the reminder to slow down and pay attention, I could make someone else’s day a bit easier. #GlobalBlogging
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I absolutely love this post! So important for us to educate the next generation about respect and kindness. Something seems to have slipped along the way somewhere with many people sadly. I was lucky enough to come from a family who, like you, valued morals and doing the right thing, and this is the legacy I will leave for my children too. #TwinklyTuesday
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I am pushing 70 in a few years and I have children who are getting older and it’s funny I have a daughter who will be 50 next year and another who will be 30 and a couple of boys in between.. hahaha boys.. full grown men with families, and I don’t fear for myself getting older, but I do think of them and how are they doing and handling it. Time marches on I guess. What a great thinker post you have here. I talk to my grandchildren now about getting older, but they laugh. Some say! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you.
Very lovely post. I was always talking to my daughter about this. #MixitUp
So glad that there are others out there talking about this with their children.
Hello Calleen,
That is a wonderful conversation to start with your daughter. One that I hope to start with my son too. Time does fly. When I turned 40 last year, it almost shocked me, as if the past 20 years went by so quickly. It made me appreciate more what I have now and every moment. Thank you for this post!
Best,
Sigrid
Hello from another on the other side of 40! It went by way too fast. Thanks for stopping by.
This is a hard perspective to understand, but it is so true. And then we get older, and we see how close we are becoming to the older category. I remember a young man complaining about an old man and how he was driving. I was in my early 20’s and shocked by his comments. He hadn’t had my mom! I remember telling him that one day he would also be old and would be driving just like that old man, so he needed to have a little compassion.
I had to chuckle when you mentioned your Mom. Thanks for stopping by and reading!
A good perspective. I remember when I was in 7th grade that we put together a time capsule to be opened in the year 2000. I remember laughing with my friends as we imagined what it would be like to be 38 years old! haha. hilarious since 38 has come and gone for me. I think its great to try to give the younger kids a perspective of where they will be later… even if they can’t quite imagine it, it can be a thought provoking conversation.
It was thought provoking, and I hope she remembers it.
I worked in family daycare and I don’t remember anyone just bowling people over like children will now, they may have been excited or energetic, some had ADHD and were a handful, but not like some I see now. So glad you bothered to explain to your daughter, a lot of people must not be.
I think it’s important. We’ll all be in that position some day.