Monday, May 7, 2007

A Sad Sight

There is this little girl who goes to Jonathan's school. They've been in the same class off and on (she turned 2 in February so is already in the Twos). She is a really sweet little girl and her mother is also very nice.

I heard a while back that her mother and father were having marital problems and then, more recently, I learned they got a divorce. I'd forgotten all this until I saw the mother pull up today and park where you go in to drop your kids off. I noticed that she had an empty car, which was, for obvious reasons, strange since we were, after all, at a child care facility. I noted this and started to pull out of my parking spot when I saw the dad walk down the sidewalk with the little girl and her five-ish year old brother. The mom literally burst out of the car and went over to pick up the little girl, who was crying.

I realized pretty quickly that the dad had the kids over the weekend for visitation and that mom was just reuniting with them briefly before she had to go to work and they had to go to school. I am admittedly very sensitive, but this whole scene made me tear up. I cannot imagine spending the whole weekend separated from Jonathan, just to see him long enough Monday morning to kiss him and take him into school. The whole thing completely broke my heart. It also reminded me that I am really lucky to have such a great hubby and that I need to be thankful for my the wonderful family I have. I know divorce happens and that it's often for good reason. I just plan to do everything in my power to make sure that I never have to see the look on Jonathan's face (or my own) that I saw on the little girl and her mother this morning.

4 comments:

Wendy said...

That is soo heartbreaking. Hopefully the family will continue to go on, and the children continue to thrive. It is so hard to pick up pieces and go on!!

Janice said...

How awful to have to go through that! Let's hope the parents' are not too bitter toward each other that the kids' are affected even more. That would be such a hard thing to witness and even more so for the kids.

Andrea said...

Even your story made me tear up a little. I can't even imagine. What a great reminder to count my blessings- thank you.

Kara Lewis said...

Heck, you guys are one of the strongest couples we know! I am often inspired by your little family!