Empathy
Went to the National Zoo in DC. Saw a leopard, otters, pandas, elephants, zebra, Komodo dragon. Feeding time for the giant Pacific octopus. Crabs, jellyfish, lobster, bugs, spiders.
At the ape house the momma gorilla was snuggling her baby. She took a break and baby went to play with daddy in the hammock. He would climb up and fall down. Daddy would give him a hand, swing, let go. It was playful, but upset Lex. “Baby gorilla fall down!”
“It’s ok buddy, they are just playing.”
“Baby gorilla fall down!”
“He is alright Lex. And if he got an owie, his daddy would kiss it, make it better.”
“Baby gorilla fall down!”
Two days later he is still talking about it. Ask him what he saw at the zoo and you’ll hear about feeding the octopus and “Baby gorilla fall down!”
He told his teachers at school, told Jaja on the phone. This clearly made a big impression on him.
“Baby gorilla fall down!”
