It Takes a Village

Those of you who read "Small Glories" (scroll down) might appreciate this update...I saw my 13-yr old neighbor outside (the one who I suspected of smoking) and called him over. It went something like this:

Me: Hey 'Shawn', that wasn't you I saw the other day smoking was it? Because you wouldn't do something like that, would you?

Shawn: No...I wouldn't do that...

Me: Good. Because it looked a lot like you and I was really worried. Smoking is SO bad for you.

Shawn: Umm...maybe you saw my older sister? We kinda look alike...and she smokes.

Me: Oh she does? Well, I'm so sorry I mistook you two. But man, you should tell her to quit, tell her its not good. I know so many people who got sick...

Shawn: Ok.

At this point his mother pulled up the driveway and I waved nervously and quickly walked away. I guess I thought I was done for! A mother catching another mother scolding HER son!?

Anyhow, the next day I saw his mom outside and I apologetically confessed everything. And do you know what she did.......?
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She THANKED ME! Profusely! She said it was truly wonderful that we were cultivating a "village" mentality... that in her home country, everyone looked out for the kids whether they were theirs or not... that sometimes the "humilation" works better than all the scolding in the world! I felt so rewarded, so vindicated, so...happy! Though we both agreed that it was a case of mistaken identity, (she is aware that her daughter smokes and wants her to quit) she admitted that she hoped my 2 cents would help in the long run. BTW, her son had not told her the topic of our discussion, possibly because he was embarassed????

Anyhow, I told her I hoped she would do the same for me and my kids if ever she saw them in trouble. She was all teary-eyed. It was such a Hallmark moment!

It's good to know we're looking out for each other, especially with an escape-artist in the house...