Once upon a time there were four sisters who were obsessed with shoes, even though they were just four years old. Any time they received new shoes they fought over who would wear which pair. (When you're shopping for four you're rarely going to find four of the same pair, especially when the shoes are from second-hand stores).
One day, soon after the little girls finished eating lunch, the doorbell rang. The little girls watched Mommy talk to the man in the brown uniform. "Mr. Brown" then handed their mommy a box. What could it be? What could it be?
Mommy opened the box and discovered it was a present from grandma and grandpa. While Mommy was grateful to see her little girls had received new shoes, inwardly she groaned a little because she knew a fight was inevitable. First the little girls pulled out a pair of Dora shoes. They were all very excited because they had outgrown their previous pair. Then Sue Sue saw swim shoes for next summer. This made her happy because her feet always end up with scrapes from the bottom of the pool. Then Tortilla gasped. "Mommy!" she cried, "Look! Ballerina sl--. "
Before Tortilla could finish her sentence Cakes had grabbed the treasure... pink ballerina slippers. Tortilla burst into tears and Cakes eagerly slipped the shoes on her own feet. "But Mommy," Tortilla cried "I want the ballerina slippers. PLEASE!!!"
Mommy had to think fast. "Well, Cakes is taking her turn right now. Cakes, you need to share." "No," Cakes said. "These slippers are mine." "OK," said Mommy. "Here are your options. You can wear the slippers until the oven timer beeps and then give the slippers to Tortilla, or I can put them away." Cakes didn't say anything.
Mommy set the timer for 10 minutes. When the timer beeped, Cakes excitedly pulled the slippers off her feet and handed them to Tortilla. Tortilla danced and twirled on the hardwood floor in the kitchen, desperately trying to enjoy every minute of her 10 minute deadline. When the timer beeped again, Tortilla looked a little sad, but took off the slippers and gave them to Roo. Roo twirled and jumped and ran around the house. Ten minutes later, Roo turned the slippers over to Sue Sue with no objections. Sue Sue walked around on her tippy toes with a huge smile on her face. Ten minutes later the timer beeped again, and it was time for dinner. Throughout dinner each of the four little girls talked about how much fun it is to be a ballerina.
The moral of this story: sometimes my daughters surprise me with how willing they are to share.
5 comments:
It is easy underestimate your particular challenges. You're fortunate your girls are such good sports (though they way you're raising them is a big part of it). In the end, though, they'll be better people because of it.
How lovely =)
I think with four the same age sharing comes early. It has to.. mainly because there are some toys which we only need one of, even if it means sharing. At least they caught on to the concept pretty fast.
Hi Quadmama! I found your blog when I was at The Mommy Machine. I have 2 1/2 year old twin girls and I understand the need for sharing shoes, too. (Only I have half the challenge you have!) :)
That is fantastic the girls are learning to share. They are learning to be kind to others and sacrifice which are wonderful qualities for all of us to have.
Don't get me wrong... we still have our issues with sharing. But they know that if they really want to try something out they have to share or it's getting put away.
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