Sandbox Politics

Yesterday, I took the kids to the park. On my bike with the trailer attached. The trip from the house to the trail was a little sketchy, and I had to push the bike, trailer and children up the hill at least 4 times, but HEY, I took my kids to the park on my bike in the trailer (4 miles round trip). Yay me. Did I mention the trailer with kids probably weighs 120 pounds and that my thighs only burned for 1 day? OK, I have now.

So, the kids were playing in the sandbox in which there were 2 little girls who refused to share their toys with another little girl who asked politely to play. Not only did they refuse to share, they moved to another portion of the sandbox. Not my cup of tea, but to each his own. I was sad for the little girl whose feelings were so hurt that she cried. There was also a really big and handsome and friendly 2 year old boy who my old children refused to play with. Not my cup of tea either, but aside from telling my kids that it would be really nice to play with that handsome young fella, there wasn't a lot I could really do. His grandma was glad he was trying to make friends, and so was I, even if my own kids weren't interested.

Did I mention it was a windy day? It was a windy day.

I don't care if my kids throw sand and it gets in their own eyes. Eventually, that ought to learn 'em, right? But I don't really like for them to throw sand into the eyes of other children.

That's just a side note, though.

There was another little girl who was happily building a sand castle and dodging flying sand. After the two little girls made the other girl cry, the little sand builder's mom said, "Ah, talk about sandbox politics." I laughed.

But, she really hadn't seen nothing yet.

After the two leaver-outers left out the girl and made her cry and had been playing controversy-free for about 6 minutes, Devin walked over and stomped on their sand structure, knocking off the top third of whatever it was they were building.

I wish he was standing up for the little sad girl who just wanted her own bucket and a couple of new friends. But, he wasn't doing that at all. He was just being mean. And, I was rightfully appalled at his atrocious behavior.

I think I mumbled something about how that wasn't nice. But, it wasn't very heartfelt because I had already decided these girls were a little mean themselves. And, they proved they were the queens of the sandbox when one of them came over and kicked sand in Devin's face.

True. It served him right for his earlier transgression, and I didn't even so much as make a mean face at the mean girl. I just capitulated on his behalf and removed my children from the sandbox and tried to put the whole sandbox experience behind me.

It's behind me now.