How Does She Do That?

Picked up the lass from the bus today and she has a substitute sucker bus driver. As the lass is climbing down off the bus, the driver turns to me and says (roughly):

“She was a huge help today. She was telling me where all the other kids stops were, what way to go, who got off at each stop. She’s just adorable. I love her!!“

She said all this with a huge pleasant smile on her face making it clear that the lass had probably made at least her morning, probably her day and likely her week. It wouldn’t have surprised me if her bus driver had said she couldn’t wait to be on the bus with the lass again tomorrow!

All of this just left me in slack-jawed amazement at the powers of the lass. It’s one thing when the Grandparent’s are duped. I expect that because, well, they’re the Grandparents- they spoil the kids and then go home at the end of the day with a smile on their face knowing they can go home at the end of the day. As opposed to the Wife and I, who are stuck at home … with her. All the time.

… Sigh …

But I digress…

It’s one thing for family, but she regularly does this with complete strangers. She smiles at them, chirps a happily little tune and before you know it the stranger is dancing like a serpent in front of a charmer. She’s particularly effective with women (No idea why). It could be the teller at the bank, the bagger at the grocery store, the cashier at a store, an army drill instructor, the Grinch…

When they comment about how sweet/lovable she is, I used to retort “Live with her for a day and then tell me what you think.” It was always good for a laugh. But I don’t say that much anymore. The world is her roller coaster and I’m just along for the ride.