"Because I Said So" Doesn't Always Work....Sometimes You Have To Explain It To A Kindergartener

"Because I Said So" Doesn't Always Work....Sometimes You Have To Explain It To A Kindergartener.

 

I was born in Scandia, Kansas and my dad was in the Air Force so we lived near my mother's parents quite a bit while he was stationed overseas.  Scandia is a very small community where everyone knows everyone and I was related to about 75% of them.  But even though we were in a fairly safe time and a fairly safe place, my parents still taught me a few safety measures that I took to heart.  One in particular was: "Never ride with strangers". I have a particular memory that sticks in my brain that took place while I was in kindergarten one day. 

 

Well, at age 5 I usually almost always did pretty much almost everything I was told to do by my parents. :-). One cold winter day we were being dismissed from school early because of an approaching snow storm/blizzard.  Now, I lived only across the street from the school and knew my neighbors quiet well, but since my mom was at work, I was supposed to get on the bus and go to Grandpa and Grandma's farm, which I'd done numerous time.  This particular day however, the regular bus driver (Cindy) was not there.  They had a substitute. (Can you see where this is going?) I had been told on numerous occasions "Never Ride With Strangers" and being the COMPLIANT child I was :-) I obeyed that little voice in my head and decided not to get on the bus.  Instead, I walked down the street to cousin Lana's house with her to wait for my mom to get home from work.

I guess you can imagine the next few hours.  I was a very petite child with snow blonde hair, very easily lost in a snow storm.  But I was not lost, was nice and toasty sipping a hot chocolate as my mom and grand parents were frantically searching the route from the school to my grand parents farm.  It was only about 3 hours until they found me snuggled on the couch at cousin Lana's house watching cartoons.  Imagine my surprise when they began yelling at me for worrying them. 

 

My only response...."I did what you said....I didn't want to ride with a stranger!"

I had several other "fun" encounters in my Kindergarten year, but this one seems to stick with me the most.  Because of that experience, I always take the time to try to explain why something is the way it is.  I never leave it at "Because I said so".

 

 

 

I wrote this post in response to a contest by Charles Buell.  If you want to enter or read some really cute stories, here's the link:  Kindergarten ain't just for kids!

Melissa Stahl

EXIT Realty Capital Area

3759 Peters Mountain Road

Halifax, PA 17032

Office: 717-896-3948  Cell: 717-599-1370

mstahlexit@comcast.net

www.melissastahlrealtor.com