Comments on: Shouted Greetings

By: Pam

Pam — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 21:35:59 +0000

I love to read your sweet wisdom when I can
32 years ago when the my daughter was 2
we were driving down main street and stopped at a red light
the car beside us had a dog sticking it’s head out the window
Daddy said “woof woof” and the dog just stared back
daughter said, “Don’t worry Daddy. He’s (the dog) is just bashful
being a female she of course was worried about other people’s
feelings (o:

loved you talking in the car with your son about words for the
grey weather.
My pet peeve is that so many parents miss those moments because they are on the cell phone
while the child sits in the back with no one to talk to
or even worse.. a video playing

By: Lindie

Lindie — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 02:19:13 +0000

I smile at every child I see, as I heard how they get hurt if you don’t and if they talk to me, I always reply. It’s the Nana in me!

By: Donna@WayMoreHomemade

Donna@WayMoreHomemade — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 20:08:02 +0000

I have a different situation to throw your way. While I will engage young children being friendly when their parents are present and actively involved, I will not if the parents don’t seem to be paying attention. A little girl, one time, as we were waiting to be seated at a restaurant, came and just started to talk to me. As an adult who does not know who this child belongs to, it makes me uncomfortable in this day and age. I told her that she might want to consider that I was a stranger and asked her to please go find her mom (who appeared to be no where in sight). Am I a “bah humbug”? Maybe. Your thoughts?

By: Lori

Lori — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 03:53:36 +0000

This makes me remember how I had to figure out a way to explain to our daughter why it was okay to reply with a nod or “hello” when a “stranger” spoke or smiled at us in passing. She knew she wasn’t supposed to talk to strangers, and her literal mind didn’t see any difference.

By: JoLyn

JoLyn — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 16:29:58 +0000

I love it when little kids talk to me in the store and I always try to greet them back. It never fails to bring a smile to my face.

By: mug mommy

mug mommy — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 17:13:06 +0000

My daughter loved greeting strangers even as a toddler and sometimes had a perplexed look on her face when they wouldn’t greet back. When she started going to a new school last year for first grade, she was Ms. Congeniality and befriended even older kids at the playground. However, I noticed she stopped greeting after a few months and found out that she felt stupid saying hi to people who don’t respond. It’s a good thing she is really irrepressible so she’s back to her usual self. A teacher said she might make it as council president someday, haha! Happy New Year to you and your family!

By: Melissa

Melissa — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 07:00:52 +0000

I do love this blog. I do love that your sweet Sean is a bit older than my sweet boy, so I learn a lot here. Thank you.

I’m praying that I’m as mindful of and encouraging to the spirit in our house as you are in yours.

And I love the line from one of your links above: “if you have an arm, a lawn chair and a smile, you have a ministry.” It really is that simple. I may have to put it on my fridge.

Thanks for lift!

By: Antique Mommy

Antique Mommy — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 01:00:40 +0000

I do think there is a big distinction between engaging, paying attention, whathaveyou — and just saying hi. I hope we’ve not come to a point in our society where we can’t nod and smile and acknowlege another human being. That’s what I was talking about.

By: Jennette Lovett

Jennette Lovett — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 00:41:03 +0000

I think that, in the world we live in today, some people are afraid that their actions will be misunderstood if they pay too much attention to children–especially men. The level of appropriate attention is subjective, so many people just choose not to participate. I don’t know how I’d explain that to my children, but it’s not an issue for our family.

By: anonlurkermom

anonlurkermom — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 14:07:48 +0000

when my fourth was little we would go to the health club in the mornings and play the “good morning” game. He would say good morning to everyone we passed and count the ones who responded. Some days were great, some not. Today, I still greet everyone I pass. It amazes me how many (most) people enter our building at work and don’t acknowledge the security guard with a hi or good morning. The bit of civility makes life more pleasant.