Lessons from Ladybug: Friendship

Since I haven't talked about our Ladybug here recently (or anything else, either!), a brief re-introduction. Our 5-year-old granddaughter has lived with us since she was born. I don't use the kids' names publicly, so I use the nicknames I give them. Ladybug is three months younger than her cousin and best buddy, Punkindoodle 🎃, who has a 2-year-old sister, Honeybee 🐝. They just moved back here from out west so the cousins are spending some nice quality time together. 😁 She also recently became big sister to (soon-to-be) step-brother AttiRex 👦, and our newest little Butterfly. 🦋

We just finished her second year of dance. More on how that went in another post.

Throughout the first half of the class year, one of the girls who is taller and built sturdier was constantly in Ladybug's face, telling her where she was supposed to be and otherwise bossing her around, now and then with a shove added. I suggested she stay away from that little one. When she wouldn't do that, I suggested she should tell the girl to stop shoving and keep her hands to herself, hoping the teacher would hear it and step in. (And while she was at it, to keep her own hands to herself since she loves to hug her classmates and they don't always care for that.)

That didn't work, either. So, since the teacher always flies in and out before and after class with no chance to talk to her personally, I sent her a message saying the constant shoving has to stop. She hadn't noticed, so she said. In a class of about 12 when it was happening most every week? (We are now switching studios, as an aside.)

Anyway, after the next class ended, Ladybug pulled the other little one, the one who had been bullying her for weeks, out of class by the hand and, with the biggest smile, said "She likes me now! She's my friend!" Since then, they get along great.

And then there is this... from dress rehearsal. Yes, this is our friendly little Ladybug pulling her new friend from the back row out to the front of the stage to dance with her.

We could all learn something from this, myself included. Instead of doing as I suggested and staying away or fussing at her, she took the opportunity, when the other little one was told to stop shoving, to shrug off earlier bullying and extend the hand of friendship. Maybe she knew that little one could use someone to take her hand and say, "Be my friend." Maybe she saw a side that was yelling out for acceptance. Like her father, she's always the first to jump in when she sees someone who might possibly need help, and offer it.

She didn't do much of her dance during rehearsal or the two following shows over the weekend, but it doesn't matter. This is what matters. This moment. You can't top this, even with a perfect dance routine.

💗