Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word.

Last week at preschool pickup, I heard one of Rudy's teachers talking to another mom about a playground situation.  The mother was holding her younger daughter on one hip and nodding with understanding while her preschool daughter, Emily, hid behind her legs.  I led Rudy outside to the car while she giggled at Hat Lamb, and it was only as we were pulling out of the parking lot that she said, "Guess what happened at preschool today?  I BUMPED Emily on the playground."  She was matter-of-fact, not smiling, exactly, but not remorseful either.

"What?  Oh, no, Rudy.  Did you say sorry?"

"Nope."

"Did Emily cry?" 

"Yes."

"Yes?!  Well, why didn't you say sorry?  Even if it was an accident, it's important to say sorry.  Did any of your teachers talk to you about it?"

"No."

"Okay.  How about if when we get home, we can make a card for Emily, and I can write on it, 'I'm sorry I bumped you,' and you can draw a picture and sign your name.  Is that a good idea?"

Rudy agreed that it was a good idea, and I at least, started to feel a little better.  I think Rudy already felt fine.  When we were talking about what kind of pictures she might draw, Rudy suggested that she could draw Emily being sad, which I told her wasn't really a great idea.  I mean, really, Rudy?  Rub it in, why don't you.

Anyhow, she got it done, and we got the card to Emily, but before I tucked it into my purse, I snuck a couple of pictures.  So, here is Emily, who also wears glasses, and in this portrait, is in pigtails.  She has a balloon tied to her right arm so it won't float away, and she's also "holding" a stuffie in her left arm.  She is not crying, so she's obviously recovered from The Bump.  Rudy wrote some letters to approximate her friend's name on the left, and then she started on the inside of the card.

Guess what?  Rudy's self-portrait includes Lambie, her constant companion and accomplice.  Toot's also wearing glasses and pigtails, but for some random reason, she's walking on the balance beam in her gymnastics class.  Sometimes her teachers put small turtle beanbags on the balance beam as obstacles, and you can see that Rudy's got several in her way.  She and Hattie look wild and up for hijinks, which is totally accurate.  And actually, Rudy looks like the type to run amok and therefore bump (or smash) into whoever's in her way, regardless of nearby beams, turtles, or playground equipment.  She's practically yelling, "Look OUT!"