The Lost Files – Sharing: So Many Toys, So Little Time
The Lost Files were weekly columns written back around 2001-2003 while I was running a newspaper in the Midwest. They seem to have disappeared from the Internet, probably after some redesign of the newspaper’s web site. So, from time to time, I’ll repost some of my favorites from saved hard copies (that’s paper to you new media types).
My wife and I are in the process of teaching, at least trying to teach, our son about sharing. He’s getting there, although his idea of sharing differs somewhat from my version.
It’s still a work in progress. His 2-year-old mind translates “sharing” into “you have something I want now YOU share.” Basically, he’s got that down pat – where I have to surrender whatever it is I have that suddenly strikes his fancy.
The other part, where he lets me “borrow” something, is still a little foreign to him. I believe he is still under the impression that the one with the most toys in the end, wins. So any time I pick up one of his toys he immediately comes over and informs me that it’s his. That means of course I have to hand over whatever it is I have. After a few minutes of this, Caleb’s arms are so full of stuff he finally has to let something drop.
This is my chance to attack, and he knows it. He watches as I move in and then he quickly heads me off, placing himself between me and the toy. And with a serious voice – at least as serious as a child can be – Caleb shakes his head at me and informs me “no daddy, dat mine.”
To say that Caleb has a lot of toys is like saying there’s a lot of sand on the beach. We’ve tried to get him educational toys. I say educational because many of them require a doctorate in nuclear physics to put together. So I’ve spend this small fortune, equal to the Gross National Product of some countries, in an effort to make my son happy, hopefully educate him and eventually get to the sharing stage.
What is frustrating about all this is he thinks the toys that come with Happy Meals are just as cool as the gazillion dollar toys I’ve gotten him. Things that move, jump, need a NASA computer to run, and come with inch-thick instruction books printed in Japanese.
People not just from different states but around the world including Asia and Europe have testified to the hazards and damages created by the use of order generic levitra. levitra is made of Sildenafil citrate. Therefore, it is better to use viagra purchase no prescription after discussing with the consultant psychiatrist in Kolkata to get the best possible results from the medication. People already on nitrate medication should also be done as the viagra generika more helpful tabs doctor suggests. When looking for check this site out generic cialis 176-191 peptide, maintaining quality for precise research means following protocols and keeping documentation. I want to teach my son to share, and it’s not simply because his toys are cooler than mine. My parents instilled in me a desire to help those less fortunate, whether it is through donations of time, money or effort. And I want to instill that in my kids as well.
It’s amazing the stuff we buy simple because we think we have to have it. I was reading a book the other day that pointed out too often “we spend money we don’t have to buy things we don’t need to impress people we dont’ like.” How true, and how sad. I don’t want my kids to grow up that way.
And so I continue to work on sharing with Caleb. He took a gaint leap forward in that area earlier this week. He has this train known as “Diesel” which is familiar to any one with Choo-Choo Thomas train paraphernalia. It’s featured on one of the Thomas video tapes and is considered a “bad” train.
So I was utterly amazed when Caleb comes up to me with his cherub smile and offers me the train and says, “here daddy, share.” I was in awe. With incredible fatherly pride in my heart for teaching my son to share his most precious toy, I gratefully took his offer.
It was then Caleb reached behind me for my Leatherman multi-tool – a device he knows is strictly off limits. With a smile on his face, he blurted out, “share daddy.”
Oh well, at least for a second I thought he had learned. But of course what he’s learning is bribing. No, let’s call it trading. At least it’s a start in the right direction.
Until next time.
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