Sharing: a four letter word

How did we get to the age of three without major sharing battles? We thought that we were sooo lucky because Benjamin never snatched toys from other children and hardly minded when they played with his toys- even his favorite ones! We thought that he just knew that the toys were his and that the kids were only borrowing them. HA! How funny a statement is that? A toddler born having the ability to share. How hilarious.

It started about two weeks ago on a Friday afternoon. I picked him up from school and he was beyond irritable because he still needs a nap, but afternoon preschool starts at 12 and ends at 3, so that leaves no time for a nap. He could use one about every other day or every day if he nighttime sleep was less than adequate. So there we were, wrestling in the parking lot with each other (almost quite literally) and trying to load up to go home. I moved his cup from one hand to the other so I could snap the car seat and he screamed, "NO, MY CUP!". I sat for a moment and looked at him and sort of chalked it up to him being sleepy because he'd never said that before in the thousand times or so that I'd done the very same thing to his cup. All in the name of safe driving, I tell you. Sheesh.

The next Monday I pick him up and go to grab his book bag and he runs at me and yells, "NO, MY BACKPACK" and almost starts crying about it. I mean seriously, does the kid really think that I'm going to take his backpack from him? Yes, I think he really does.

He adores his friend Maddie who comes over several times a week. There are a few specific toys that are entirely off-limits to her now. Bless her heart. I'm thinking of just putting them up because neither one of them really understand that the other isn't out to get them. Benjamin thinks that Maddie is trying to take the toy home forever and ever and Maddie thinks that Benjamin is just being mean and not sharing. Sometimes it just isn't worth the arguments over silly toys. They do love each other and are happily content 95% of the time, so I think that is a nice percentage for two toddlers. :)

I'm not saying that preschool caused these out bursts, but um, yeah, I'm saying that they did. It was bound to happen sooner or later, and it is odd with us that it is happening much later than the normal age for toddlers. He's around more children at school and more children equals greater the tendency for snatching toys. Having said that, Benjamin truly needs social interaction with children. He needs to learn how to cooperate and handle social situations and that is something that I could never provide at home. I can teach him a million things, but learning how to make friends with peers is something that has to come from consistent time with other children at school. I would include church, but the children and time there isn't consistent enough for him. He needs to see the same faces and locations over and over.

So sharing is now a four letter word in our house according to Benjamin. I know, this too shall pass.