UPDATE: A lesson in observation...and persistence

My 4 year old daughter loves the kiddie pool at the Y (YMCA) and we go there as much as possible as it allows her to socialize with other kids and get in some exercise. After wading around a bit she decided she would play with the little rubber ducks that are there for the kids entertainment. At this particular pool rubber ducks are provided in the pool and allowed to float around for the kids to play with- or throw at each other...but obviously that behavior is frowned upon in this particular establishment. Many kids have found creative things to do with the ducks but most of the time they are just ignored (especially by the male patrons) and allowed to float around aimlessly. Doomed to a life of visual enjoyment only. On this day the ducks were poised to be a catalyst for human behavior. But I digress. My daughter was gathering the ducks and setting them up alongside the pool, stacking them in the center of each tile that lined the deck on the outside of the pool. After stacking a few she would return to the water to gather up some more and continue to place them on the tiles. Before long she started to get a modest accumulation of the little guys all lined up on one section of the pool. Seeing this, some boys, possibly ages 8 & 9,  came along and decided to sweep them off of the side of the pool and back into the water. My daughter mildly protested and then collected up more ducks and continued on with her project. Each time, the boys would come back and push the ducks back into the water. Three or four consecutive times I stood by and observed, allowing the whole situation to unfold (dirty looks don't count). It was an interesting observation in human nature. But, she kept free building. Ignoring them. Rebuilding and rebuilding each time. Pretty soon her positive activities attracted some helpful bystanders who assisted in gathering the ducks up with her and giving them to her, so that she could set more up. Just as they had done before, the boys came back when they saw she was being helped. And just as they had done before, they destroyed it again. My daughter kept rebuilding which seemed to attract even more positive energy and even more kids that helped her get the ducks and set them on the tiles. A third time the seemingly envious boys came back and destroyed the duck creation. After the boys went away this time, I went over to her and I told her how much I appreciated and admired her persistence and that I was also proud of how she kept rebuilding. 
Then, a very interesting shift in the pattern started to occur. The destructive kids came over and started to help to gather up the ducks too. The boys were collecting them up, handing them to her so that she could complete her project. Before long, all of the kids were helping and giving the ducks to my 4 year old daughter. It was a very interesting dynamic that occurred and unfolded before me. 

    I think one of the biggest lessons here is when someone decides to build something and make something new there will always be people that will be jealous and want to destroy it- it's just human nature. But the important thing is to just keep fighting.... keep persisting... keep building and rebuilding. Even with the destructive nature of other humans. Many times the positive energy of building and rebuilding attracts other people who want to be helpful. A very interesting lesson. 

    The additional lesson that we could all benefit from here as parents, is the subtle art of observation and restraint. Sometimes its okay to allow the natural consequences of life to unfold with our children. When they learn through their own experience they gain an understanding of the world that is much more powerful than simply being told what to do and what not to do. In other words, we don't always have to save or rescue our children from the negative things in life. Sometimes those experiences are helpful. I believe that my daughter learned a very powerful lesson that day. Persistence. And she also learned that if she goes about her business in a positive way with positive intentions that she can potentially attract others into her life that will help her with her intentions. My daughter had an intention that day. To build a row of ducks. She saw it in her mind before it was ever complete. With her intention she manifested her goal. 

    After my daughter had almost all the ducks set up and lined up the way she wanted them, she was done. she waded away and went to play in another part of the pool. The Ducks remained there and the positive energy and persistence seemed to come off on to the others. She came back a few minutes later, ducks still there, and decided that she would sweep the ducks into the water herself. She was proud of what she had created. I was proud of how she got it accomplished.