Because of non judgemental parents, I am still allowed to be a part of society. I was one of those parents that I am not thankful for. I rarely judged, but on occasion, yes I did. And then I had children. Meaning more than one or two or three or four. Because it took having all different kinds of personalities to finally get the kind that would teach me the lessons I needed to learn.
Some parents get one of those children as their first. Thankfully I did not or I probably wouldn't have had the strength to have more.
Mine came in the form of a little boy with stubbornness, independence, and humor. And a HUGE amount of that boy hormone. You know the stuff that makes them as boy as they come. The stuff that makes them like sticks and make noises and belch at the table. The stuff that makes them want to wrestle and shoot guns made from their fingers.
Well, that same little boy had just finished using the bathroom. As he was washing his hands and had not yet pulled up his underwear (And I am impressed that he was washing his hands because that is a step-up for good, usually he does the opposite of what I want him to do), the neighbor girl was over playing. Well, she saw what he hadn't yet covered, and let out a little squeal. This little boy of mine thought that was so funny. He decided to make his nakedness into a game and chase this neighbor girl around my upstairs, pointing his little manhood at her. I hear all kinds of screaming going on upstairs and fast footsteps indicating a game of chase. I hurry upstairs to stop the problem and discover what was going on.
I was horrified.
Oh. My. Gosh!!!
How do you handle this situation? It was innocent fun. Or was it? (yes, it was) How do you explain that?
I was imagining this 5 year-old girl going home to her dad and saying something like, "Yah, I was at the Black's home today and their 3 year-old brother pulled his manhood out of his pants and chased me around with it. He thought it was funny but i didn't."
Jaw hit the floor, call the police.
Before I could allow the situation to get out of hand, I decided to follow the rule I set for my children: You better tell before someone else gets the chance.
So, I talked to the neighbors and explained how horrified I was about the situation and how I will make sure it never happens again, etc.
I was sure the neighbors would never speak to us again. But I had to be the one to tell them before their daughter did.
But you know what? Their comment was, "Oh, she has a brother. She's used to him. No big deal."
Now it was my jaw dropping.
They did not judge me.
Their daughter still knocks on my door almost everyday to come and play.
And I made sure my little boy NEVER did something like that again. I made sure that it was very clear to him that his actions, however innocent, were very inappropriate.
Boys will be boys. And I am thankful that my boy did that at such a tender age that I could use it as a teaching opportunity.
And so thankful for the parents that did not judge me. Or my son. Or my family. Who could see the situation as it was and move on.
I am so thankful for parents like that.
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