Gone are the days when Benjamin would kindly share his toys, blankies, food, cup, dog, parents, and everything else in the world with anybody who wanted them. Now the concept of sharing is so foreign to him, he just looks at me like I'm crazy when I suggest it.
"Sharing? You want me to let someone else play with my ball/hammer/book/(fill in the blank)? Have you gone mad?" Sheesh, I'm sorry I suggested it, Your Highness.
But then Benjamin's cousin, Weston, came to our house to play. He is a year older than Ben and the two of them usually get along fabulously. Weston just does what he wants to do and Benjamin follows him around like a little puppy dog.
"Oh, you want my toy? Okay, here you go Weston."
"This toy, too? Okay."
"Sure, you ride the bike. I was done anyway."
"Of course you can have my cheerios. I'm not hungry. You don't even need to ask."
Well, two weeks ago on this particular playdate, I started to notice a change in that agreeable attitude of Bens'. He was driving his little red car out on the driveway and Weston wanted a turn. Just like in the past, Weston simply opened the car door and started to gently nudge Ben out of the way. This time, however, Benjamin resisted. So Weston nudged a little harder. As Benjamin pulled away from his cousin's grasp they both looked at me with dismay. I could tell what they were thinking.
Weston: "What's wrong with Ben? He isn't doing what I want him to do! Aunt Allie, do something!"
Benjamin: "What's wrong with Weston? He's trying to make me do something I don't want to do! Mommy, do something!"
Trying not to laugh at their bewildered expressions (because I realized that they could quickly turn into angry ones) I stepped in and "helped" Benjamin out of the car, explaining to him that it was time for our guest to have a turn with the toy. I then showed Benjamin how he could push Weston down the driveway in the car, which both boys thought was fabulous.
Until Benjamin wanted to drive again...
"Sharing? You want me to let someone else play with my ball/hammer/book/(fill in the blank)? Have you gone mad?" Sheesh, I'm sorry I suggested it, Your Highness.
But then Benjamin's cousin, Weston, came to our house to play. He is a year older than Ben and the two of them usually get along fabulously. Weston just does what he wants to do and Benjamin follows him around like a little puppy dog.
"Oh, you want my toy? Okay, here you go Weston."
"This toy, too? Okay."
"Sure, you ride the bike. I was done anyway."
"Of course you can have my cheerios. I'm not hungry. You don't even need to ask."
Well, two weeks ago on this particular playdate, I started to notice a change in that agreeable attitude of Bens'. He was driving his little red car out on the driveway and Weston wanted a turn. Just like in the past, Weston simply opened the car door and started to gently nudge Ben out of the way. This time, however, Benjamin resisted. So Weston nudged a little harder. As Benjamin pulled away from his cousin's grasp they both looked at me with dismay. I could tell what they were thinking.
Weston: "What's wrong with Ben? He isn't doing what I want him to do! Aunt Allie, do something!"
Benjamin: "What's wrong with Weston? He's trying to make me do something I don't want to do! Mommy, do something!"
Trying not to laugh at their bewildered expressions (because I realized that they could quickly turn into angry ones) I stepped in and "helped" Benjamin out of the car, explaining to him that it was time for our guest to have a turn with the toy. I then showed Benjamin how he could push Weston down the driveway in the car, which both boys thought was fabulous.
Until Benjamin wanted to drive again...
Benjamin & Weston at Avila Beach, July 2009
"C'mon Ben, get up! The wave is coming!"
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