“When I was on the swings today, Abby came up to me and Teresa and said she hated us,” Izzy told me one day after school. "Wow, hates a strong word," I replied. Izzy then told me that Teresa didn’t know what the word "hate" meant so she explained to her that it meant Abby didn't like them anymore.
The next day…
I asked Izzy, "So whatever happened to Abby? Is she still not talking to you and Teresa?" “No, we’re friends again,” Izzy answered happily. "But I thought she said she hated you two?" I asked. “MOM, sometimes people say things they don’t mean. It’s okay. We’re friends again,” my daughter answered as if to say, "Duh!"
Well, as you know, sometimes for an adult it’s not so easy to forgive and forget. But it’s amazing to see how children don’t hold grudges. A lesson we too often forget because by holding onto grudges and not forgiving, we tend to only hurt ourselves. We’re human, not perfect. Sometimes people say things they don’t mean. And as humans we always have a choice: we can sulk and let it eat away at us or we can be the better person and let it go. I'm choosing to let things go.
