RileyVisitsMateo

byBirgitLaurent,Mateo’sMom

TodayMateo’sfriendRileycametospendthedaywithus.ItwasalittlehardatfirstforRiley,becausethiswasnotherhome.SoRileywasfeelingabitoutofsorts,andinturn,Mateoseemedsadwithher.

Riley Mateo

Riley Mateo

...initiative....

ThenIsawasparkinRileyassheseemedtotakechargeofhersituation.Shespottedawoodenblockonthecoffeetable,andinordertogettoit,sheclimbedontoMateo’schair.

AsshesatinthechairshenoticedtheshelvesofCD’ssoclosetoherreachintheotherdirection.

ShegotdownandledMateoovertohischairandwithsomesortofnon-verbalmesmerizingpowergothimtositinit.Thenherplanbegan.

RileydecidedtotaketheCD’sofftheshelfandplacetheminMateo’slap.

AtfirstMateoseemedunsurewhattomakeofit,asifhewerethinking,“Hey.Thisisnotwhatyoudowiththose.”

ButRileypersisted.Itwasasifsheweresaying,“Here,Mateo.Ireallywanttogivethesetoyou.”

ThroughRiley’spersistence,Mateogotthegameandstartedtolaugh.

ThemoreCD’sthatcameofftheshelf,themoreRileymadeMateolaugh.

ThenRileyandMateobecameintriguedbytheirCD’s.Theybeganstudyingthemandhavingsomekindofmutuallyunderstandabledialoguewitheachother.

ThereweresomanyCD’s,theybegantofallonthefloor.AsRileypickedthemupoffthefloor,sheseemedtobethinking,“Hmm,Ithinkwecanactuallylistentothese.”

SoIputononeoftheCD’sforthemandtogethertheysearchedtofindwhere

themusicwascomingfrom.

Rileybegantodance,andMateolookedonadmiringly.

Fortherestoftheday,theyliterallydideverythingtogether.

Theyendedtheirdelightfuldayofcooperativeplay,withasnack...

…andacontagiousboutoflaughter.

Whatitmeans…

Riley,todayyouenteredintoanewenvironment.Althoughitwasinitiallyabitscary,youovercameyourfear,andyoutooktheinitiativetoinviteMateointoyourworldofplay.Throughthatinvitation,youcreatedaatmosphereofcooperationthatcontinuedthroughouttheentireday.Youdidnotbickerorstruggleforeachother’stoys.Rather,yousharedandhadfuntogether,andyour

genuinecareforyourfriendshonethrough.

Rileydisplayedhergenuinecharacteristicsofleadership,cooperation,andcare.Insuchayoungchild,thiswasamazingformetowitness.Asshecontinuestopractice,nurture,andfindjoyintheseadmirabletraits,theopportunitiesandpossibilitiesthatopentoherareendless.

OpportunitiesandPossibilities…

Riley’sMomadds…

Areyoukiddingme??!!??Thesepicturesareadorable,andIlovehowcandidtheyare.IamreallytouchedtoseehowhappyRileyandMateoaretogether.Theyobviouslyhadsomuchfun.Thankyouforsharingthissweetstorywithme.IusuallyjokethatRileyisbeing

‘bossy,’butIlovehowyousawitastakinginitiative.I’mverytouchedtohearthesekindwordsaboutmydaughter.Thankyou!

RileyVisitsMateo

ByBirgitLaurent

#7ProjectofUnderstanding

ConnectingtoChildrenModuleD4–AttendingtoInitiative,Cooperation,andPerseverance

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