the social Butterfly

tonight we went to a Christmas party with many other families, most of whom we had never met. Wonderful food and a great program (with amazing music) but one of the best parts was actually after the party. Technically, the party had ended so the kids were running around like crazy people while the adults mingled and cleaned up.

Ladybug's favorite thing to do was to climb up the stairs and onto the stage and then go sit dangerously close to the edge, as if she was going to try to slide off the big kids. But really, it's just a game, and one I have become very familiar with. She gets a kick out the adults around her being alarmed and either nervously looking around to make sure her parent is watching (yes, I am) or dash to her rescue (only to have Ladybug grin and scurry away).

Butterfly lives up to her nickname and is the social butterfly of the family. Never shy, she bounds from person to person, enthusiastically introducing herself. "Hi! What's your name?! My name Tinkerbell!" Not kidding, oftentimes she does in fact, introduce herself as "Tinkerbell". But just as often, she will give them her real name and then bounce over to the next person and repeat the same conversation. Once she has met everyone in their family, she introduces the rest of us, her sister, mommy and daddy. But by now, she's usually forgotten their names and starts all over again. Sounds obnoxious, but actually, its really charming. (of course, I'm the mom. i think everything is charming.) Tonight (and not for the first time), she even chased after an intimidated little girl calling, "hey! I want to talk to you!". I'm pretty sure this little girl was just overwhelmed by the overture. (Don't worry, it didn't last long. She warmed up after a few minutes and then happily returned to meet the social Butterfly.)

This is how she makes friends. Everyone loves her, strangers at a party, the cashiers at the grocery store, the clerk at the bank, etc. And who can resist her? She's so happy and cheerful and has hair that is so amazingly beautiful that people can't help but to comment. She accepts their compliments, feigns coyness and giggles a "thank you", before bounding off to her next soon-to-be-friend. (I especially love when she even asks, "hi! want to be friends?!")

At playdates, she's never the kid that clings to mom and needs time to "warm up" to the environment and other children. She launches right in, eager to meet and make friends, regardless of their age, gender or appearance.

...And when I say it that way... perhaps the world needs people to be just a little more like that. :)