I looked up the definition of gossip, and it said it is defined as casual, often unconfirmed talk or rumors about the personal affairs of others, typically serving as a tool for social bonding, reputation management, and group norm enforcement. It went on to mention different types of gossip: positive or neutral gossip, negative or malicious gossip, and idle talk or chatter.
While reading about all the different types of gossip, there was absolutely nothing mentioned about gossiping with a four-year-old, probably for good reason. It had been a while since I had a good visit with my four-year-old friend, Ms. Violet Snow. There is no denying Violet is a social butterfly. If you walk with her in a public setting, she will get all the “Hi, Violet!” greetings, and you will just blend into the surroundings. I have witnessed this firsthand while accompanying her in a crowd. She has only been on this earth for four years, and I have been here a bit longer.
Our conversation that day started with her mother telling me that Violet had earlier told her to “chill out.” I had to giggle, thinking the girl might be onto something. There are a lot of grown people who need to take that to heart, myself included. Violet has recently finished her time at Mother’s Day Out, and she proudly shared that she will be attending pre-K when school starts next fall.
We talked about my costumes and reading to the little ones in pre-K. Violet was already aware of these adventures since I had visited her grandmother’s house in costume. She also informed me of her Halloween plans for the next couple of years. Nothing like planning ahead, right?
I asked Violet about her summer plans. She received a Barbie Dreamhouse from Santa, and I have enjoyed crocheting a few items for Barbie’s house. It brought back memories of making chairs out of tuna cans, and the things you can make out of shoeboxes! My four-year-old friend has not yet learned about body image, home wrecking, or skin tones. She took me back to a time before I learned about judgment.
We took a moment to celebrate Violet’s first dance recital. It was a day of dancing like no one was watching, with plenty of smiling photos with friends. The bouquets were a testament that they were worthy of celebrating. Violet has grown taller since I last visited, and those beautiful curls have grown too. I pulled one that reached down the middle of her back, and when I released it, it sprang right back into place.
Somewhere during this four-year-old gossip session, I realized how much I enjoyed my time with this little one. There is certainly something we could all take to heart. Time and life make us forget the joy of simple conversations. When the world feels heavy with gossip, maybe take advice from a four-year-old and just chill.
Violet, keep being you. It gives this old girl hope for the next generation.
