Kintropy In Action

Janette is the queen of networking.  Plop her down in any setting - doctor's office, park, grocery store - and she is likely to strike up a conversation with a stranger, maybe even trade phone numbers.  I am exactly the opposite.  Put me on a social networking website like Facebook or LinkedIn, and I'm happy to write up a storm with friends and acquaintances.  Face-to-face, though, I'm not naturally social.  I work at socializing, but I have nowhere near Janette's mastery of it.

Gabriel and Hannah, apparently, take the lead on this from their mother.  Several weeks ago, Gabriel came home from school, announcing that he had made several friends.  In fact, he, new to first grade, had written out his name and phone number on pieces of paper and handed them out to his new friends.  

As I learned at back-to-school night, this started a bit of a trend.  One parent had asked for other families' contact information.  Gabriel's teacher explained that she could not give out that information, but that the kids, much to her surprise, were frequently trading contact info already.  I chuckled.  And Gabriel since has been bringing drawings and scrawled writing from friends home since.  They, all girls to date, gift them to him.

Hannah, for her part, is social city.  When we are all out, people tend to engage, stare, or avoid (mostly the last, unfortunately).  All are greeted with a beaming smile, though, and often a "Hi!" from Hannah.  She is the Princess, rolling past her subjects, with a queenly smile and wave.  And if someone stops to talk, or - best yet - sing, Hannah claps and requests/requires more - always more.

She, Gabriel, and Janette are our social ambassadors to the world.  Should you meet us out and about, come up & say, "Hi."