Last Sunday, I was beyond exhausted and opted for family nap time (which rarely happens) rather than head to Michael's for craft supplies needed to finish our ghosts we started last week. Sophia woke up from nap and of course asked what craft we were doing. Panicking I packed us both up in the cold rain and headed off to a local pottery shop that allows you to paint there. This one was called All Fired Up in Cleveland Park neighborhood.
This is by far not a "review" on the establishment. I will probably go back because of its location, not because of the semi-rude college students (told my daughter they were booked even though there were plenty of chairs open - too close to closing time I'm guessing?) manning the place or the over priced pottery ($42 for two little things!) simply because it is close and my daughter loved it. (Okay - now my rant is over)
We walked in and got lucky and found a table to ourselves in the middle of the store. Sophia picked out a fairy figurine and I picked out a coffee cup. Trying to come up with something practical that could be used again for the $21 I was spending. As we painted, Sophia would stop every couple minutes to examine her work and tell me a some sort of story or simply say she loved me. It was great conversation and we had a great time.
Then it happened....
A heavier set woman (you know a woman that carries all her weight in her bum?) walked past us twice and I hear Sophia begin to giggle really loudly.
"Mom! (giggle giggle) That woman had a REALLY big butt!(giggle, giggle)"
Of course the store was silent. Of course everyone heard her say it. And of course it humiliated me beyond belief.
What I'm hoping is that the store heard how I handled the situation. I did not yell at her and tell her what she said was wrong. It wasn't! The woman had a big bum. She was simply making the observation. I took this as an opportunity to explain that we never comment how different people look. That looks aren't important, and what matters is how kind and happy our hearts are. I explained that God makes everyone different and he loves all of us and we should love each other for those differences too. Sometimes commenting on how someone looks could hurt their feelings.
Feeling bad, Sophia told me she was sorry. I know my daughter would never intentionally say anything to make someone sad. She is honestly one of the sweetest human beings I know. But I still wanted her to understand what someone looked like should never even be something that we noticed. Soon a time will come where everyone has to have a certain name brand jeans and knowing teenage girls, they will talk about who doesn't have the right clothes or hair, and I hope that my daughter stands up for those who don't have the right clothes and doesn't notice the physical difference in those around her.
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