“How can it be your right when it is my left mommy?”
“That is exactly why I call it my right and you call it your right, sweetheart.”
“But, it is left, not right.”
“This is my left and that is your left.” Mom raises her left hand and helps the little girl raise hers.
It was the third consecutive day of this particular discussion. Unfortunately, it always ended up in the little girl getting confused, angry then finally sad in being unable to make her mom understand the right and left of things.
Mom was better prepared today.  She had just met her deadlines at work. She could relax for a while before the next cycle of events started in her newly promoted job.
Mom knelt down next the her little girl, shoulder to shoulder, facing the same side and then said. “See, now, we both have the same right and the same left.”
“But I cannot see you mommy. So how do I know if you have raised your right hand or left?.” She turned around and stood facing her mom. Then said ,” See, I knew you were not doing it right. That is your left. ” There were big tear drops gathered in her eyes, all ready to roll down.
“No, sweetheart! Why would I do that?. Ok, let’s go to your room. I have an idea.” Mom was ready with her plan B.
She asked the little girl to stand in front of the mirror and raise her right hand. When she saw her reflection raising the left hand, there was no stopping the tears. “The mirror lies. I don’t like the mirror. I did not raise my left hand. Why is it showing my left hand then?” She ran into her hiding corner in the closet.
Mom decided to escalate the problem to her teacher who could probably talk to the entire class about why right becomes left and left becomes right.
My right can be your left and your right can be my left if we are not on the same side. Even the mirror cannot help us with right and left. To see what is on the other person’s right, we have to get on to his side. Mom was lost in thoughts.
She stood in front of the mirror raising her right hand and seeing her left hand up. In that moment, she suddenly thought of all the decisions that she had taken looking into the mirror. Was it right or left when she decided to turn right? Did she end up in the right or left, when she took that important U turn in her life? She closed her eyes and turned right. Took her daughter’s favorite book “The story of Ferdinand” and went straight into the closet. She had her work cut out for the rest of the day.
The little girl’s giggles filled the house in no time. Rights and Lefts were forgotten temporarily. It would come back, each time posing the similar doubts and arguments. Until then, mom decided not to worry about it.
 
 
 

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