Maddie has been in preschool for a while now, and she understands the importance of occasionally asserting dominance and the value of ownership. She might see other kids pushing each other around, or comparing each other’s things. A certain rank and order falls out of schoolyard play.
She’ll bring these learnings home to Aaron, and he completely doesn’t get it.
If they get to divide a pack of trading cards, she’ll dive in and start picking the best cards. He’ll wait until she’s done, and happily play with the left overs. He doesn’t care, he just wants to play with her.
If Aaron accidentally hits Maddie. She’ll get mad, and demand that he says, “sorry.” He’ll happily say sorry to her, and move on. But for her, that’s too easy on him. So, she’ll demand he say sorry ten times in a row. Without skipping a beat, he’ll sing-song, “sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry” and move on. He just likes being with her.
Well, that drives Maddie nuts! What’s the point in getting all the best stuff, or proving you’re dominant, if Aaron doesn’t cares about that? At this point, I have to step in before Maddie escalates her war with her brother who doesn’t even know a war started.
I expect Aaron to eventually understand the mind games that people play with each other. But I really appreciate his enlightened state right now. I wish we all simply had no grasp of jealousy or power-plays.
Who We Were Then
- David
- Lillian
- Maddie (5 years old)
- Aaron (3 years old)
2 replies on “Enlightenment”
I agree….Wouldn’t it be nice, if we could work in an environment that had no grasp of jealosy or power-plays?
Wouldn’t it be nice of the rest of the world could be that way too?