Stella and Hobbes]
The kids are in the bath. Stella, as usual, jumped in and scooped all the Disney toys and is refusing to share. Oliver is making pathetic, reasoned attempts to get one or two.
O: Stella, please let me have Goofy and Minnie.
S: No.
O: PLLLEEASSSEE. You have ALL the toys. I just want a few.
S: They are MINE. NO. You can’t have them Oh-yi-buh! They are ALL my favorites!
O: STELLA! This is not fair. Really. It’s just not. I’m only asking for two. You have so many.
S: NO.
Instead of demanding she hand them over, I decide to try a different approach, and play on her generosity.
K: Stella, why do we share?
S: We don’t.
K. Stella. C’mon. Why do we share?
O: Because we have to. Give them to me, Stella.
K: No, we don’t just share because we have to. We share because it is a nice thing to do. Because it is the generous thing to do. Because it makes the other person happy.
O: Yes, Stella. You should make me happy.
K: Stella, don’t you want your brother to be happy?
S: (shaking her head dramatically from side to side). Noooooooo.
K: Stella. That’s not nice. It would make Oliver very happy, and me very happy, if you would share a few of those toys.
S: No. Because it would make me MOST HAPPY if I keep them here. I have them. I want ME to be happy.
K: Hand over the toys, right now Stella, or you are going to bed with no stories. None.
Stella hands over the toys, thereby avoiding a nasty, brutish and short end to her evening. Laws matter.
Comments
I think that, in addition to laws, you should also implement a progressive taxation system that contains some form of wealth distribution so that those with more toys than they can use are forced to give one or two to those with no toys.
But you are forgetting the Golden Rule: He who has the gold makes the rules.
OH....MY....GOODNESS!!!!! What a little butt nuget! I liked your reasoning approach...but obviously that wasn't working with the "Little Princess!" Glad you finally made her hand them over! mmmmmmm...stuborn little pooh! Ya think she might have some strassel in her?