My Space

I was shopping in a craft store recently and attempted to squeeze through the narrow space of an aisle, which was partially blocked by a father who had his son (3-4 yrs) in a shopping cart. Before squeezing by, I waited for the parent to make more room for me to pass. He didn't, however, so I made my way through. As I did, the young child remarked loudly, " I don't like people coming close to me." The parent quickly said, "Don't say that!" I added, "It's OK. He is who he is."

Later I thought about the child's remark. Initially, I believed the remark was racially motivated--them being black and me being while--and the child was simply repeating what he had learned. Thereafter, I thought the remark may have been a reaction to the child's parents telling him to not let anyone in public get close to him--out of fear of abduction, etc. In any case, the whole incident highlights how children interpret what parents tell them. Young children don't analyze situations and see shades of gray. The fact that the child felt threatened even when his father was within three feet of the shopping cart was clearly an overreaction.

I sure hope the child isn't taken to East Africa anytime soon since personal space is viewed much differently there. While in Nairobi, Kenya and other East Africa locations years ago, I was unnerved each time I stood in line and the person behind me literally touched me with their body as if the threat of someone jumping line was always a danger. Overtime I developed a habit of making more space by extending my elbow behind me. I never got use to how personal space was translated over there.