Those little reminders always mean so much.

Hi, Turtle:

Those little reminders of children who have not been frightened, and simply allowed to remain themselves, that come our way, are always welcome. and let us know that all children do not grow up with unnecessary fears.

(Although I do agree, the girl's dad, in your example, may have been a little too uninvolved, and I think you did the best thing regarding the little girl who was talking to you).

There is a wonderful town that I sometimes visit, where the kids just seem to have the run of the place. You see them bicycling around town, or walking around the town on their own, going in the various shops and stores. Cutting up, having fun. Just doing the things kids normally do. Sometimes they even walk up and say "hi" to you. Just bieng in that enviornment has such a cleansing effect. Their parents want them to be out, enjoying life.

Not terribly long ago, I had my own nice little experience there. Not quite the lengthy one you had, but still nice anyway. I was sitting in an outdoor restaurant, and a little girl at the next table over from me seemed to be trying to get me to look at her. I had had something of a stressful day before I arrived in this town, and I was caught up in what was going on in my mind, and I guess I was subconsciously trying to avoid making eye contact with the girl, based how things seem to be, where I live. I'm not afraid to look at children at all, I just don't want to stare at them, or give people the impression that I am particularly focused on any particular child. In other words, I've learned to look, yet not be obvious about it.

But I could tell, because I could see out of the corner of my eye, that she was staring at me, and wanting me to look back. So, I finally looked up at her, and she just simply gave me a very nice smile. It was so warm. The natural sweetness and kindness from a child. Of course I smiled back at her. It was the high point of the day.

I really can't mention the name of the place, as I wouldn't want it somehow listed on some anti's site as bieng "the place pedo's go to look for children", or some other such nonsense.

It's just nice to be in a place where children have been allowed to grow up without bieng unnecessarily frightened.

harbor boy