Sharing is Caring

One of the most difficult things to teach a toddler is sharing. They think everything in the world is theirs and they ever want to part ways with their "favorite" thing (or the favorite of the moment). In our house we try to talk about how we share with our friends because we want our friends to share with us, we share because we can't play/hold/have everything at once and we share because, indeed, everything is not ours. It's tough for a little kid, but a necessary skill to learn.

Sometimes I think it's harder to share for adults than kids.

Overall, generally, for the most part; I don't care if you use my stuff, take it, use it, return it or not. I'm not attached to it. Where I start to get ornery is when I have to share my time. I don't mean volunteering or giving my time to help a friend. I'm talking about when I have something planned, or I get a bit of precious "me" time and something or someone comes in the way of it. I want to throw a drop-down, drag-out tantrum like the best no-nap toddler. Tell me I can't leave, I can't see my friends, I can't make a cup of coffee, I can't write a blog, well you best be on your way before I count to ten. I've found that even when I set aside time to clean or organize if I have to spend my time doing something else, well, let's just say it's not pretty.

I'm trying to get better, really, I am.

I think since becoming a mom my life is over-structured, over-routined, set in a schedule. Before the little lady came I never carried a planner, never wrote down a thing, lived and did whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. I embraced the idea that kids need a routine to feel secure and comfortable; I whole-heartedly agree! The problem I have is that now I feel need to put everything in a schedule, including our down time and when I schedule in some personal time and it goes awry I get a little cranky.

Ok, a lot cranky.

So, I've decided that as I teach the Tiny Toddle Tornado to share, I'm going to take a page from my own book and re-teach myself to share as well. Take a step back and let life happen a little more, not get so crazy when life gets in the way of me getting a break. Because you what? I get the time I need, one way or another, and I don't need another thing to stress about.