Life Lessons at Starbucks
Okay. I have to admit I was getting to the point where I was beginning to forget that my just-turned-three-year-old grandson Elliott would not forever be caught in the throes of tantrums and stubbornness. He would not forever cry when his video ended and was turned off, or when someone else sat in his favorite seat. He would not forever be constitutionally unable to sit at a table in a restaurant for more than seven minutes at a time. After awhile you just start to accept those things as part of normal life.
And then out of the blue, it happened. A glimpse of civility, a stunning moment of stellar communication with the outside world and clear evidence of reasoned forethought.
It happened like this.
Elliott and his mom and I had stopped at a Starbucks for his favorite treat – a chocolate milk and pumpkin bread. As we drove up and parked he told me we were on a mission and the mission was to get chocolate milk and pumpkin bread. As his mom stepped up to order, she asked Elliott to please go find a table. I started out after him but he stopped in his tracks, turned to me and said “No, I can do it.”
So, I backed off and watched.
He walked to the only open spot, a small table near the window with two chairs. Without missing a beat he walked up to a couple at a nearby table. They were two people. They had four chairs. Elliott put his hands on one of the extra chairs and clear as a bell in a voice so polite and mature it was barely recognizable to me, said “May we use this chair?” They looked up, somewhat taken aback to see that the question came from a 36-month-old little boy who was waiting politely for their answer. “Yes, you may,” the woman answered. Elliott said thank you and then proceeded to push the chair all the way to the table he had saved. Only then did he motion me to come over and assigned me a seat, informing me that the one in the middle was for his mom.
I was speechless. I relayed the story to my daughter who was laughing more at my stunned reaction than at Elliott’s perfect Starbucks etiquette. “Have you seen him do that before?” I asked. “No,” she replied, “but he’s certainly seen us do it enough times.”
Just when you think they aren’t paying attention it turns out they are watching and learning. And while they may catch you using a not necessarily G-rated word now and then they’re also watching and learning the good stuff. Civility. Communication. Reasoning. Three people need three chairs. Two people don’t need four chairs. If you are in charge of finding the table, you need to find the right number of chairs. Mission accomplished – and then some.
carlenecantondotcom 