It Doesn't Rub Off

I am curious about how this is all going to work out. Karsyn, my 3 year old granddaughter is an artist with makeup. Last week she carried her entire inventory to church in a makeup case that was almost half her size. She really does a good job with it. Of course Sweetie and her mom Jodi are teaching her how to apply it correctly (assuming you can tolerate a 3 year old in any makeup). It is really fun to watch Karsyn and Zandi go through their makeup together. Braxton, at 2 is showing some interest too. They are all using some of the real stuff that doesn’t rub off! It will be interesting to see how their parents handle this as the girls get older. The have already said they don’t want the girls using makeup when they reach school age, but as I asked Daddy Darin the other day, “How are you going to take it from her?” He did not have a clue and will probably avoid the fight altogether anyway and leave it to Jody. (He is the one buying her most of this stuff!) Personally, my money is on Karsyn keeping most, if not all of it. They will have to negotiate limits, boundaries, colors and all that kind of stuff but really, is it all that important? To me it is a length of hair issue of another generation. I am more concerned with is attitude than color, heart than appearance. Attitudes rub in quicker than makeup and they can do a lot more harm. Makeup is not always a true indicator of the heart, especially in a 3 year old. Doni was telling me of a Goth teen being especially kind to her at the store the other day. It surprised her. Not me. When I was teaching I found that most of the freakiest looking Goth kids were actually very pleasant to be around and some of the best dressed “clean cut” kids had impossible attitudes. I have noticed something over the last 50 years that I would like to pass on. It applies to all of us on some level. What brings this to mind was something I witnessed the other day when I was in New Jersey. In an effort to save money, the local school district changed it’s bus route forcing one junior high girl from an affluent area to ride the “short bus” that serves the special needs children. A put down in her school is “she rides the short bus”. The mother was very upset for this change and vowed to drive her child to school every day rather than see her get on the “short bus”. I wondered why. I worked with the “short bus” kids. They are no physical threat, the bus ride would be shorter, fewer stops and there would be an opportunity to really help someone with a need. Personally, I think they may be missing a great opportunity here. These kids typically are simple, but very easy to love, if you give them a chance. What is the fear? I would have preferred that her mother sent a more positive message. There is nothing to fear, IT DOES NOT RUB OFF, IT ONLY REVEALS OUR TRUE CHARACTER. Maybe we could all learn/teach that lesson when we encounter people who are not just like us.