During a birthday party we attended this past weekend, Benjamin spied an interesting playhouse.

He made his way over, but the two little boys inside told him he was a “baby” and therefore couldn’t come in.

I picked each of the boys and flung them into the asphalt. I quietly watched as Benjamin took a step back, studying them. A moment later the boys ran out of the house and Benjamin went in - making sure to close the door behind him.

Then he gleefully peered out the window at me, happy as can be.

Benjamin’s first social rejection was far more painful for me than it was for him.