Page 1
Lila knew the sounds of home: the kettle's whisper, the door's click and the curtain brushing the window. One evening Mum came home and Lila began talking. ‘I heard three birds today, and the neighbor's cat!’ Mum smiled, but looked a little tired.
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‘I have something to tell you about today too,’ Mum said. Lila guessed what it might be, then guessed again. Mum's sentence remained unfinished. Lila touched those big ears. They heard so many sounds, but were they really listening to Mum?
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Lila straightened the cushion nearby. ‘We could sit here if you like.’ Mum sat down, and this time Lila waited. Mum explained that a difficult task had taken longer than expected. Lila did not rush to solve it. ‘You must feel very tired,’ Lila said.
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Mum nodded. ‘It helped to have you listen.’ Lila asked, ‘Would you like quiet now, or would you like me to sit beside you?’ Mum wanted company. Lila moved closer. Being helpful did not always require a big idea or an answer.
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They listened to rain at the window. Then Mum asked about Lila's three birds. As Lila described them, Mum waited for the story to finish. Their conversation traveled back and forth like a ball. Passing it mattered just as much as holding it.
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Before bed, Lila held a seashell to one ear. Hearing sounds and listening to someone were different things. Big ears needed a little patience too. How do you show someone you are listening? Sometimes simply waiting is a lovely place to begin.
Talk together
How could you show someone that you are listening to their story?