THE OBSERVATION BOOTH
OP / ED & PHOTO CREDITS ANDREA DIALECT
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THREE THE HARD WAY!
I returned home pretty late last night. I had my three assistants in the car, and it was already around 10:45 p.m., which is pretty unusual. I pull in the drive and head around back to park the car. We had just returned from a photo shoot, so we had plenty to carry into the house: lights, props, wardrobe, and etc.
Grannyson notices someone sitting “way up on a house, way up high,” he says. I made a quick scan and spotted that person on the fire escape of the house next door. As we prepared to get out of the car, I gave the kids the usual move fast, get your stuff, and let’s go speech. So the door flings open, and I’m off, headed around the rear of the car to gather things from the trunk. The kids file out.
“Excuse me, miss!” says a voice echoing out. “I can’t get in the house. Can you give me $10.00 so that I can go to my mother’s house?” And she repeats, “Excuse me, miss, can you give me $10.00 so that I can go to my mother’s house?”
I look towards her and reply, “Oh, I’m sorry, but I don’t have anything on me.” By this time, she’s on the second level, coming down the fire escape of that three-level house. As she’s talking, I’m distributing props, lights, backpacks, and etc. to my assistants. I’m moving fast, but obviously not fast enough because now she’s no longer on the fire escape of the three-story house. She’s standing at the gate, which is next to the car, which is next to the gate that separates my yard from that yard. Then she repeats…”Excuse me, miss. I can’t get in the house. Can you give me $10.00 so that I can go to my mother’s house?”
I give her the once, then twice, and three times over. Noticeably, there’s a few things going on with her. I apologize for not having the funds available that she needed and continue to do my thing. Yet, once again, she begins her singsong. At this point, I am ignoring her words but never her presence. And guess what? I hear a little voice that says, “I think I got a couple dollars.”
My head spins around faster than that little girl’s head in The Exorcist. I look over – noticeably, this little voice is the voice of my assistant called Grannyson. I give him the look. I signal, motioning that he come to me.
Our unwelcome visitor moves closer to the gate to make more of an impact with her plea. But wait, get this – you wouldn’t believe what happens next. Those three little assistants that I’ve been talking about? Let’s just say that they let curiosity get the best of them. And with their mouths open wide, they bypass me and move to the opposite side of the car at my right, which is now close enough for them to hear Sista Girl’s public announcement in a whisper. At any given moment, if she wanted to, she could make this up close and personal.
So, I amp it up. In a voice similar to the voice of the little girl in The Exorcist, as overtaken by the force, I strongly suggest that they, “Get over here now!” They sense in my voice that they are in the danger zone. Soon after, I hear the intro of a song sung. My head spins, and I look over at the woman faster than the little girl’s head turns in the movie. She senses that she is in the danger zone. She now understands that I am sorry and I don’t have anything on me. She drops her head and walks away.
As I make my exit, I hear a loud screech, which tells me that she is now scaling the fire escape. My three assistants march ahead to the front door. Not a peep could be heard. Those three were in full-fledged mourning now. Why? Because it’s Saturday night, and a fun-filled pizza night with snacks and a movie has been cancelled, and they’d prepare for a night of slumber.
My three little assistants accepted that guilty verdict without a peep. Their violations read like a laundry list. And so it read:
- Violation #1: Interrupting grown folks’ conversation.
- Violation #2: Joining in the conversation, turning an adult one-on-one into an open forum conducted in a group huddle.
- Violation #3: Walking into potential danger.
- Violation #4: Not sticking close to Mama, who knows best, like glue at 10:45 p.m.!
- Violation #5: Not paying attention to facial gestures and body movement (mine or our unwanted guest’s).
- Violation #6: Tossing family rules out the window.
- Violation #7: Offering the antidote by offering help while listening to grown folks’ conversation.
- Violation #8: Talking to strangers!
Each were in violation of Brown/Dansby Statute 4338a: Being a Child Abductor’s Dream.
But the good thing is, once again, it’s a quiet Saturday night. A hot cup of lemon and water and my favorite classic detective Columbo. Given to me by one simple statement:
“Excuse me, miss.”
I betcha the next time my nieces and Grannyson hear that one, they’ll likely run like hell – as if they’d heard the voice of that force in The Exorcist and seen a little girl’s head turn super fast like the little girl’s in the movie… LOL!
DID YOU KNOW….
The role of a parent is multifaceted and evolves as their child grows. At its core, parenting involves providing the support, care, and guidance necessary for a child’s physical, emotional, intellectual, and social development. Key aspects of a parent’s role include:
1. Nurturer and Provider
- Ensure the child’s basic needs are met: food, shelter, clothing, and healthcare.
- Offer love, comfort, and emotional support to build a sense of security.
2. Guide and Teacher
- Teach values, morals, and life skills that help the child navigate the world.
- Support their education and foster curiosity and a love for learning.
- Model positive behavior, as children often learn by example.
3. Protector
- Create a safe environment that protects the child from harm.
- Set boundaries and enforce rules to instill discipline and responsibility.
4. Supporter and Encourager
- Encourage the child’s interests, talents, and dreams.
- Be their cheerleader, celebrating successes and offering reassurance during failures.
- Help them build self-confidence and resilience.
5. Mentor and Coach
- Offer guidance in decision-making and problem-solving.
- Teach emotional regulation and coping skills.
- Help the child understand consequences and accountability.
6. Advocate and Champion
- Stand up for the child’s needs and rights in various environments, such as school or healthcare.
- Ensure they have access to opportunities and resources for growth.
7. Lifelong Influence
- Foster a lasting bond that continues into adulthood.
- Provide ongoing support as a mentor, friend, and advisor as the child matures.
A parent’s ultimate goal is to raise a child who becomes a capable, compassionate, and independent adult.
The Observation Booth is utilized as a space for Andrea Dialect to stumble through, which aids in life and brand development. It can also be used by readers, subjects, and features to assist or advance our world or their own. It is a peek into one’s world from the outside. It is also for the development of content.
Everything printed here is in draft form; thus, error is welcomed and to be expected. Everything is constantly evolving, is her mantra. Seeing the work in printed format is the initial step and is quite valuable and therapeutic for developing all forms. Like Everything, Andrea Dialect uses this space as a test lab for test study and a test subject.
Here you will also find influencers, professionals, and muses who are considered “clay” who lend their image to change as doing us proud who are contributors to the upward progress of human progress. It is a platform for the growth, inspiration, motivation, and development of herself, her subjects, and her readers. Enjoy!
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