Teaching Him

As I lay in bed tonight, I am struggling with something that has been going on for a while now. Something that is so unfair. Something I am having a difficult time trying to figure out how to explain to my 6 year old. I lay here in tears trying to figure it out in my mind. Fighting with myself on the right and wrong way to teach him, or help him understand. You see, the last little while, Hunter has wanted a friend from school to come home after school and play. I make arrangements with parents. The day comes when I pick Hunter up from school, and I'm supposed to (or so I think, according to arrangements made) bring his little friend home for a play date. I walk to the classroom to pick up Hunter and one of his friends, only to find out his friends parents never sent a note to school to let the friend be released to me. Hunter is heartbroken. He cries all the way home. Comes home, goes down to his room, lays on his bed and cries some more. I try so hard to explain to him in terms I think he can understand. He finally calms down after about 45 minutes or so.  Once I get my sweet boy calmed down, I try to text or email his friends Mom, to which I either get no answer, or the same, "Oh my gosh!  I totally forgot!"

When talking to one of the two Moms of kids in his class, I found out that 4 of the Moms don't want their kids playing with Hunter. I was beside myself. When talking to Hunter, I ask him if he plays with these kids he wants to come over, at recess. He always tells me "Yes!", and goes on to tell me what they play at school.

After asking one of the kids Mom's 3 times, and all 3 times, she "forgets", I finally asked her what was up, why she keeps putting off sending her child home to play with Hunter. She says she doesn't want her child playing with Hunter because he is so wild and she doesn't want he child coming home and acting out because her child played with Hunter. What?!?!  I tried asking her how she knows her child is going to act out when he has never played with Hunter. Of course, she doesn't have an answer. 

Struggling. Hurt. Sad. Anger.  Frustration. Just some of the emotions I am fighting over this.

It's so hard to explain something to your child who has a difficult time understanding things, when you don't understand it yourself. The fact is, this world is a cruel, mean, awful, BIG world. And, although I want to keep my child from getting hurt, from being treated unfair, from mean, rude, awful people, I realize I can't shield him from it. The best ad only thing I can do, is teach him. Explain how some people are just afraid. That some people just don't understand. But that's just it!!!!  I have NO CLUE HOW to teach him these things. I have no idea how to explain these things to him.

It's heartbreaking. 

It's unfair.

It's not right. 

He's only 6.

ALL he wants, is to have a play date.  Where is the harm in that?

Until I am able to find that answer/answers I am searching for, I will keep encouraging him to ask his friends to play. I will keep encouraging him to befriend everyone. To treat everyone with respect. To treat everyone how he wants to be treated. 

I will teach him to ALWAYS be him.  Because look at him, he is SO worth having that friend. He is SO worth being treated with respect. he is SO worth their friendship. My Hunter is one of the most tender-hearted, sweet, kind, loving, friendly, honest kids I know. 

My promise to you, my Hunter, is to keep searching for the right answer/answers. To love you unconditionally. I will NEVER treat you any different. I LOVE you as BIG AS THE SKY, my buddy!!!