Callapidder Days

C. starts second grade next week, and I think he’s a tiny bit apprehensive. His two best friends are in the “other second grade,” and although he does know several kids who will be in his class, there’s always the whole who-will-be-friends-with-who thing to work out at the beginning of the year [Grammar note: I know the final "who" should be "whom," but what 2nd-grader says whom?]. So friendship and its inner workings have been on his mind.

I’ve read a number of good posts on friendship lately, such as Jennifer’s and Katherine’s. And although I share lots of blog-stuff with my family, I hadn’t discussed this particular topic. But C. seems to have figured out on his own what I always need to be reminded of. [Grammar note #2: yes, I know I ended that sentence with a preposition, but I don't really like that rule - sorry!]

So anyway, he came downstairs the other night with an announcement:

“I’ve figured out what it takes to be really good friends with someone:

• You have to have a very similar personality.
• You have to be together a lot.
• And when you first meet, you have to be willing to not be nervous to meet that person or else you might miss a wonderful friendship if you never thought to introduce yourself.

So, it basically takes a lot to become a good friend. The hardest part is not being nervous when you first meet, and being willing to become friends.”

Sounds like he’s got the basics down. I’m sure he’ll do just fine this year as he navigates the seas of gradeschool friendship.

And, since we’re talking about the wisdom of kids, I’ll share this little gem that he told me last week:

“You might not want to try to touch someone’s glass eye to see what it feels like, because you might accidentally touch the wrong one.”

Don’t ask.

* This post was originally published on August 25, 2006. C. starts 4th grade next week. Time is flying!