a young friend
By savypat
@savypat (20216)
United States
September 5, 2010 11:26am CST
We had visitors yesterday and Father and his daughter. The father came to visit Hubby, they have been friends for many years and he brought his young daughter, 12 years old to see the Llamas. Well I was introduced and after a few min. found Hubby and Father deep into old times with the girl standing there prepared for a long boring visit. So I excuse myself and took her with me, first we went to meet Llamas who were their usual charming selves and then we walked down to the creek and toured the rest of the animals, yes including the chickens, who thought we were there to feed them and followed us for some time. Finally I took her back to the house and we sat and chatted until Hubby and her father returned to the house.
She was a very nice young person with many of my same interests so we found much to visit about. All in all I think she enjoyed her visit. Would you have done that? Would you feel comfortable chatting with a young girl like that? I was surprised how well it went and that we had so much in common.
4 people like this
17 responses
@amybrezik (2118)
• United States
5 Sep 10
Yes I would have. It sounds like you made the girl feel at home and that you could probably be a mentor to her. It's nice that you had something to take her to see and you were able to keep her from being bored.
2 people like this
@BlueAngelRS (2899)
• Canada
5 Sep 10
I agree amybrezik she probably felt very much out of place and felt more comfortable with someone to talk to herself..
2 people like this
@amybrezik (2118)
• United States
5 Sep 10
Absolutely, sometimes all a pre-teen like that needs is an adult that shows some interest. She probably made a much bigger impression on the girl then she knows.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (157555)
• United States
5 Sep 10
From knowing you online I would say that you are always a person to put forth an effort to make people feel at home. I would have done the same thing but maybe would not have as many interesting things as you do. Visiting the llamas and the other animals I am sure made for a good icebreaker with your new young friend. Kids are often full of curiosity and new ideas and that makes for very good visits. If I was in the place of the girl and no one offered me any attention I would have found myself looking for a book, any book to pass the time. I think visiting with you was much more fun for her as well as you.
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
5 Sep 10
I would feel very comfortable making the acquaintance of a young person. I am somewhere between 7 and 70, myself, so I don't have a problem with enjoying myself with most people. Usually, I find, it's the other person who has a preconceived idea that I'm "too old" or something.
2 people like this
@cobrateacher (8432)
• United States
5 Sep 10
Hi, Pat!
Maybe it has something to do with having been a teacher for many years, or having adopted a LOT of children, but I always find young people really interesting. Some have a bit more drama in their baggage than is comfortable, but most are just a joy!
Glad you enjoyed your day!
2 people like this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
5 Sep 10
I'm glad you both had a good time! I love young people and get along with them well. I boy across the street moved away a couple of years ago and every time he comes to the area to visit relatives he visits me. I can't believe he's 16 already!! In fact, he visited yesterday. A lot of young ones love having someone that listens to them. This boy and I used to have a lot of fun playing around in the snow or just talking about stuff in his life
I think people with wide age differences have more in common than they think if the older one will just remember how it was to be a kid.
2 people like this
@AmazedSweetie (63)
• United States
5 Sep 10
That was so sweet of you! I have done that. My fiance's friend came over with his daughter one time and they were sitting and chit-chatting. I could tell she wanted to get up and play with our animals (we have 4 cats and 3 dogs) so I took her around the house and found the cats. She loved playing with them! Then we went out to the dogs. She got a kick out of our miniature pinscher. She is still a puppy so she loves to play! :)
2 people like this
@BlueAngelRS (2899)
• Canada
5 Sep 10
That is very sweet of you to do savypat and I think I probably would have done the same thing.....I was the child in question when my dad stopped to see some friends of his when I was younger and he said wait here in the truck while he went in for coffee but his one friend thought no way come to the front door and said come on in....So I did and today I still hang out when I got to my hometown and I love to sit and visit and have coffee with them...
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
6 Sep 10
Sometimes I get alot better with the kids than the adults. I know I have in my hubby's family because outside of the kids I'm the youngest adult. And when his family gets togeather it's hard to relate to them being that they are all 70's & 80's and one can only debate views for so long before you say.. "I'm going to go check on the kids" So when my niece & nephew were up here I spent time with them and the kids looking for catapillars I had a decent time with her rather than the adults (outside of hubby of course).
1 person likes this
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
6 Sep 10
Hi pat~ I am not surprised at all that you and the young girl
had so much in common! I love to talk to the young kids in
the neighborhood, especially the ones that are a bit older. They
really have alot to say and they seem to like to listen too. You
are a very interesting person and I am sure that this young lady
found you to be very approachable, interesting and easy to
talk to to and loved all the animals she was also introduced to!
1 person likes this
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
7 Sep 10
I would have done the same thing because, not only am I always open to meeting and getting to know a new person regardless of age but I could not bear to see a young girl standing alone and bored in a place where there is so much to see! She must have enjoyed those Llamas of yours I’m sure! Good on you for being such a nice person and taking this young person under your wing for a little while!
1 person likes this
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
8 Sep 10
Actually, yes, I most definitely would have done that. Especially since the girl thought there was going to be nothing fun about the visit for her. I remember when I was about the same age as the girl that you are talking about, I volunteered at a local nursing home once a week to help feed the residents that either weren't able to feed themselves or those residents that didn't ever have any guests we would serve as company for them. I did find that there were a lot of times that I had more in common with those people than I ever thought that I would.
1 person likes this
@Pose123 (21635)
• Canada
6 Sep 10
Hi savypat, What an enjoyable day it must have been for you and I'm sure for the young lady as well! The generation gap is not as great as many people think it is and we can all learn from each other. I'm sure that you turned what could have been a very boring day into a most delightful one for her. I feel that I would have done the same if I'd been in your place. Blessings.
1 person likes this
@anurag3786 (6267)
• India
5 Sep 10
Really nice friend.. but i have not much experience in my life.. about this.. because i never done that.. so i can't say anything about this...
1 person likes this
@ench815 (465)
• Philippines
5 Sep 10
I'm so happy to read your post. I've always been comfortable dealing with the younger ones than older ones. They are sometimes more real and with less expectations. I also enjoy their company because they are not so ashame to be themselves with strangers so you see the real them. Thank you for being so nice. I'm sure you enjoyed her company too.
When I was younger, I'd shy away from adults that I don't really like. I guess, she really liked you because she felt the genuineness of your character. Kudos to you!
