Little Bean in Charge
Sometimes You Have To Be Strong
During one of Little Bean’s Auburn Audubon summer camp weeks, a project for the campers was to put on a science fair. The group was broken into teams, each with a team leader. Little Bean was the team leader for the microscope display.
The display was simple - the team found various objects for attendees to view under the microscope like fur, moss on a rock, a feather. You get the idea.
The fair was open to parents so I ran away from work for half an hour to attend, and when I arrived I was able to find a seat near her display without her knowing yet that I was there - so within eyesight and earshot but not intruding.
I watched as she directed the kids and parents into a line and told them a little something about the microscope when they came up. It was a popular display, it seemed like everyone wanted to look into the microscope.
And then the boy showed up - her age, but much bigger. He jostled into the front of the line and she told him he couldn’t cut and to get in back of the line. They obviously knew each other.
He said, “Why don’t you stop being so bossy.”
Bossy. A nine year old boy to a nine year old girl.
I displayed great fortitude in not getting up to yell at him and let her handle it. She seemed irritated and stressed, but never-the-less told him that SHE had been put in charge of this display and that there were rules.
He grumbled and moved to the back of the line.
They’re nine. This isn’t some greater patriarchy thing here, I know. Would the boy have called her bossy if she had been another boy? I don’t know, I’m not trying to make a point. But I was pleased that she held her ground.
She finally saw me and waved me over, and said to the line, “Can you let my daddy in to see?”
The kids parted and I got to look at a piece of moss on a rock. I was pretty cool actually. She broke the rules to let me in, of course.
But that’s okay. After all, she was the boss.
.
Love the poster!
You tell him, Uma!! ❤️