The meaning of what it means to be a friend has been explored, challenged, and pondered here at the Upper School. The Saplings are beginning to discover that friendship- a special bond between two people, or a group of people built with a foundation of companionship and trust- is more complex than they had imagined.
Many questions have arose in their interactions, invitations, and expressions in their art- How do we show a friend we appreciate them? What happens when one friend gets in a disagreement with another? Are we still friends with each other even if today I want to play with somebody else?
A Sapling approached us one morning, confused and frustrated at the new feelings that she could not give a name to. When we asked her if she wanted to express what was bothering her, she told us "I don't want to be her friend because I want to play with the boys now. And I'm scared that she will be mad." Smiling to myself, I replied, "Friend, if you choose to interact with another Sapling today, do you think that the friendship is over?" The Sapling's nose scrunched. "Well... it's not that I don't want to be her friend never again, I just don't want to be her friend right now."
As new friendships are developed, many new ideas arise and are challenged. Friendship is celebrated in many ways, and sometimes friendship faces hardships. The Saplings are beginning to see that you can be a friend by giving a hug to someone that is not feeling well. That even if you are playing with someone else, your bond is connected with a strong, white string that can never be broken. And even if you get angry with that friend and say something that you don't mean, you can still find a solution to mend the pain and come together again.
"Even when me and my best friend are gone, we are still best buddies. Because we're still friends, in our hearts."
Many questions have arose in their interactions, invitations, and expressions in their art- How do we show a friend we appreciate them? What happens when one friend gets in a disagreement with another? Are we still friends with each other even if today I want to play with somebody else?
A Sapling approached us one morning, confused and frustrated at the new feelings that she could not give a name to. When we asked her if she wanted to express what was bothering her, she told us "I don't want to be her friend because I want to play with the boys now. And I'm scared that she will be mad." Smiling to myself, I replied, "Friend, if you choose to interact with another Sapling today, do you think that the friendship is over?" The Sapling's nose scrunched. "Well... it's not that I don't want to be her friend never again, I just don't want to be her friend right now."
As new friendships are developed, many new ideas arise and are challenged. Friendship is celebrated in many ways, and sometimes friendship faces hardships. The Saplings are beginning to see that you can be a friend by giving a hug to someone that is not feeling well. That even if you are playing with someone else, your bond is connected with a strong, white string that can never be broken. And even if you get angry with that friend and say something that you don't mean, you can still find a solution to mend the pain and come together again.
"Even when me and my best friend are gone, we are still best buddies. Because we're still friends, in our hearts."
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