Voices
KIM
SIMON
GETTY IMAGES/FLICKR RF
Whatever Happened
to Kindness?
WHEN MAX was just a few
months old, I sat cross-legged on
the floor with him in a circle of
other mothers. The facilitator for
our “Mommy and Me” playgroup
would throw a question out to
the group, and we would each
volley back an answer.
“What quality do you want to
instill in your child? What personality characteristic would
you most like for your son to be
known for?” she asked.
One by one, the mothers answered. “Athletic,” “good sense of
humor,” “brave,” “smart,” “strong.”
The answers blended together
until it was my turn to speak. I
looked down at the tiny human
wiggling around on the blanket
in front of me with his perfectly
round nose and his full lips that
mirrored mine. I stroked the top
of his very bald head and said
with confidence: “kind.”
I want my son to grow up
to be kind.
The eyes of the other mothers turned towards me. “That’s
HUFFINGTON
03.31.13