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Yesterday, after my SO and I signed our new lease and his three-year-old (H) had her fill of playing with the new landlady's partner's son, we went to a local Winter Fun Fest, which was part neighborhood services convention/part stuff for the kids (face painting, music, balloons). H spent a good hour running around the pavillion (making us tired just looking at her).
Toward the end, H noticed a girl, about 7, sitting alone at a table crying. H walked up to the girl and asked if she was OK. My SO and I wondered if we should intervene but we stood back.
H: "What happened?" Girl: "My balloon floated away." H: "You can have mine."
And then H went around the table, gave her balloon to the older girl, and gave her a hug. (This didn't placate the girl, who was probably embarassed that she was crying and getting helped by a 'baby,' but it sure made her dad's day.)
Contrast this with an exchange between her and me later that evening: H: "I hurt my lip." Me: (offer of sympathy) H: "That won't work. Just. Let. It. Bleed."
(She wasn't bleeding at all, and I had to do what I could to stifle a laugh.)
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