The HeArt of Conversation

Brenner and I decided to eat at Double Dave's tonight. Kane was running around town with his friends and had already eaten at his job. I mention Kane's whereabouts because I am definitely not one to judge others' parenting skills, but I witnessed a sad exchange or lack of one tonight between a father and his three-ish year old daughter. First of all, let me note that I don't know how old she actually is because I don't talk to strangers just because they have a small child or a baby. I don't go ga-ga over babies in public. Oh, how old is she? Aww, he's so adorable. I'm just not made that way.

While dad prepared her plate at the buffet, she kept coyly peeping at Brenner. He does go ga-ga over little ones, but they seem to be crazy about him, too. We think it's because he looks like a large baby himself. At least he did before the beard. Once dad arrived with their plates, he started to text. He texted and texted and texted and texted while this little girl sat there silently eating her carrot sticks. This is where I would like to talk to people in public: Look at your daughter!! Explain things, ask her questions, tell stories, make her giggle! Before he knows it, she'll be running around town with her friends and their only communication will be via texting.

Earlier today, however, while sharing a story with me, a colleague revealed that she still reads aloud to her son, who is in junior school... at his request! I hope someone's reading to that little girl tonight.