"This Is The Worst Day Of My Life," 8 Year Old Cameron

Yesterday, 8/2/13, our grandson 8 year old Cameron told Anne and me, "This is the worst day of my life."

Earlier in the day a boy in summer camp threw a rock that hit Cameron in the right eye hurting Cameron and causing light swelling and redness around his eye. The camp counselor did nothing to punish the boy, my guess is because he immediately tended to Cameron's injury.

Last night we took Cameron and his little sister, 5 year old Carina to dinner at Ruby's, a family friendly cafe. Both children ordered corn dogs with French fries, but when the order arrived, the waitress brought only one of the corn dogs and fries, which she placed in front of Cameron.

When she realized Carina didn't receive her corn dog and fries, she took Cameron's order away from him and gave it to Carina. Poor little Cameron could take no more, as tears rolled down his cheeks and he began to cry.

As the waitress went back to the kitchen to get Cameron's order, Anne hugged him and comforted him. A minute or so later his order arrived and when I explained to our waitress what the other waitress had done, she apologized to Cameron and promised him an ice cream cone with candy sprinkles for dessert. This too made him feel better.

Meanwhile Anne and I explained to Cameron the concept of forgiveness, as we spoke of the boy who hit him in the eye with a rock and of the waitress who took his order and gave it to Carina. We told him everybody makes mistakes and as we spoke with him, he felt a bit better.

But what really helped him to feel better was when we promised to take him (and Carina) to the toy store after dinner so he could choose a surprise. That put a big smile on his face.

After dinner at the toy store he chose a Lego dragon, one of his favorite toys, and he went home a much happier guy.

Dick