Thought of the Day 11.13.08

My sons, being people with taste buds, love candy. And in the aftermath of Halloween, Spencer has had the chance to refine his candy preferences to cherry Nerds, Whoppers, and Kit-Kats. Having depleted his Halloween haul of these delicacies, he requested that I bring some home for him.

So last night I got some at the store and gave them to him. The happiness on his face was beaming, and he kept saying, “Thank you, Daddy.” And even though he was clearly instructed that he would only get them after meals and in small amounts, his radiance was undimmed…until Ethan wanted to hold them. But Spencer didn’t want to share. And as is usually the case with two boys, escalation ensued.

A total gift received with gratitude ten minutes prior was viewed as an absolute private possession now. So I explained to him that half of a big gift is better than all of no gift at all, which he grudgingly accepted. It sure is weird how adults are so completely different from children.