A little boy was at the beach playing in the sand - one of his favorite things to do. He enjoyed digging holes in the sand, scooping the tiny grains with a little shovel, then filling it back in to make mounds and hills to level off. He was the perfect expression of loving absorption in his work.
He was drawing in the sand with a stick when a little girl came up to him and said, "Stop, stop, stop!" Being a polite little boy, he looked up at her, pausing in his work briefly then resuming his sand process.
"Stop! Don't draw in the sand. Don't dig in the sand. Stoppppp!" she ordered him. "This is my sand!" she continued forcefully.
The whole rest of the beach was wide open for her to explore and play, but she wanted the happy space the little boy was using.
***
I found this scenario very interesting on many levels. And I am wondering what you all feel about this, so please comment and share your thoughts. Also - what symbols, archetypes, and lessons does this evoke for you?
He was drawing in the sand with a stick when a little girl came up to him and said, "Stop, stop, stop!" Being a polite little boy, he looked up at her, pausing in his work briefly then resuming his sand process.
"Stop! Don't draw in the sand. Don't dig in the sand. Stoppppp!" she ordered him. "This is my sand!" she continued forcefully.
The whole rest of the beach was wide open for her to explore and play, but she wanted the happy space the little boy was using.
***
I found this scenario very interesting on many levels. And I am wondering what you all feel about this, so please comment and share your thoughts. Also - what symbols, archetypes, and lessons does this evoke for you?
Comments
Hi Willa,
Just wanted to let you know someone has been trying to post a comment on your blog page about the little girl ordering the little boy to stop playing in the sand. I wrote a comment three nights in a row, but it didn't post. I have no idea what I am doing wrong as I am so computer illiterate. I even googled 'How To...' - still no luck.
So, here is my thoughts on the subject: Interesting. Most children would want to play with the little boy. The girl didn't want to play with him, but didn't want him to play either. She wanted control and seems like a little tyrant/bully. Is this the modeling behavior that she sees/hears? Does she get any positive attention? Does she feel loved, secure? She needs to learn The Golden Rule, put simply for children: treat others the way you want to be treated. When my children were very little I used an analogy of acting like a stinging bee that hurts or acting like a honey bee that is sweet and does good. I told them 'God wants us to be kind'. As they got a little older, I would add that 'it doesn't cost a thing to be kind. even to someone that you don't like'. I'm afraid the longer she goes before learning to be kind the harder her life will be on many levels, not just with her peers.
The little boy's reaction to the verbal attack needs to be commented on, also. He acknowledged the little girl's presence, but did not become upset or afraid. He simply went back to his task of playing in the sand. His body language said enough- "I don't have to listen to you. I can play in this sand". He stood up to her without being mean and fighting back. Very commendable! I hope other children will be able to handle confrontations with this little girl as well as he did.
Many Blessings,
Judy L.