Saturday, May 10, 2008

I'm crying because she's crying

There's a story about a goat in a turnip field. The boy starts to cry because the goat is in the turnip field and it won't get out. Fox comes and asks the boy why he's crying. The boy explains that he's crying because the goat is in the turnip field and it won't get out. So Fox starts to cry. Bear comes along and asks Fox why she's crying. Fox says "I'm crying because the boy is crying and the boy is crying because the goat is in the turnip field and it won't get out." So Bear starts to cry. This goes on through several animals until finally bee comes along and asks the same question and gets the same answer. Bee stings the goat and it vacates the turnip field and everybody is happy again (except, presumably, the goat).

I'm sure the point of the story is supposed to be that it is more effective to take action than it is to weep and wail with everyone else, but sometimes empathy is all you can offer. My 16 year old is sobbing upstairs because she and her boyfriend have decided to be friends for awhile. It was a mutual decision, but her life routines are built around the relationship - talking every night on the phone before bed, walking together in the halls, hanging out before and after school.

I know this too shall pass - new routines will be created, old ones re-established, but oh my heart aches for her. So right now I'm crying because she is crying and that is all that I can do.

2 comments:

Courtney said...

Awww, lost love is tough. Don't worry, a buzzing bee will enter the picture with his stinger and she'll snap out of it. Nothing implied with the stinger line of course....

Karen DeAngelo said...

Gah! Just as long as bees keep in mind that using that stinger inevitably leads to death.