Dinner and Show

Hello my dawlinks!  I hope you had a good a week.  Everyone was quiet so I'm going to gather you were busy and life was full of wonderful things for you.  I saw that Lent had started, thank you Alice, and I wish you well on your journey if you take part.  Remember, Lent is not so you should suffer, it is so you should remember.

In our family days, when the meydls (girls) were young, we'd go out for a meal once in a while and just enjoy one another.  We'd kibbitz (talk) so that everyone can partake and give their opinion; yes, that included that kindeleh (children).  I can't tell you how many people would be surprised by this participation.  We did this for a number of reasons.  Of course, even as kindeleh we valued their thoughts but more importantly they needed to learn to develop their own thought process, their own opinions.  They also needed to learn to listen to ours and others and respond with respect.  To this day I can tell you that my meydls do this with their own kindeleh.

So, why am I telling you this?  We happen to be out to dinner last night and next to us was a family with five little ones.  Moishe couldn't resist and leaned over to the father and mentioned how well behaved they all were.  The father said they were his foster children though he was in the end process of adopting two of them.  We invited them to join us for dinner and they agreed after much debate.  The waiter wasn't too thrilled about resetting the table but it all works out in the end. 

It seems the father is a massage therapist and the mother is a teacher.  Each child comes from a different walk of life and all are under the age of five.  We first started with the small talk and when I couldn't stand it anymore I started in with the mizinik (youngest son).  "Do you like broccoli?"  And the boy made a face. I then took my broccoli and put it on Moishe's plate when he wasn't looking.  The little man's eyes widened as though I was going to be in trouble.  He then leaned over to his companion and told her what I did.  Then the giggles began.  By the time Moishe realized what happened he had a plate full of broccoli and couldn't find the rest of his food. We were all laughing so hard and loud the whole restaurant got quiet.  Then the kids started talking with us. 

We heard about school, their favorite toys, how they felt about things, and they asked us questions as well. There were times when the Mother and Father went to correct the kindeleh and we allowed everything they asked.  It was wonderful to be around such yungelayt (young people) again. 

It is believed that G-d speaks through many different venues; the whisper of the wind, the call of the birds, the laugh of a child, and tears of soul.  I believe His favorite venue is children. I know it's mine.  Your hippie grammy Yenta believes in peace, love, G-d and a good laugh at least twice a day.    Play time doesn't have to be with big kid toys such as cars and boats that run on gas and oil; when was the last time you played Jacks?  No, not on the floor (who can get up from that?) on the table; what?  you don't know about compromising?  Or how about a game of CandyLand just for the fun of it with your neighbor?  They'll look at you funny but I'll bet you'll have a great time.  Try it, it couldn't hurt!

Your

Yenta