It would appear that, for this family, the concept of sharing just might be the hardest thing learned, ever.

Josh and I have a pretty good grip on it, I think.

But the children? Oi.

For those of you visiting from Rocks In My Dryer, I have a 2.5 year old and a 9 month old. The toddler (Olivia) is very possessive about certain toys. Namely, her family of dolls and the small square Duplo blocks. If Benjamin (the baby) even looks in the general direction of said toys, her screams could wake the dead.

But, you see, Benjamin’s favorite toys? his main purpose for life? his one and only joy on this earth? happens to be whatever Olivia is holding in her hand.

There is a lot of screaming. And crying. And pushing.

It would appear we neglected to tell Olivia that, really, those dolls and those blocks belong to Jesus. And He’s just letting her borrow them until she gets her own heavenly mansion constructed entirely out of small square Duplo blocks.

Or will she have to share that, too? I wonder.

Back to our earthly ponderings.

What do you recommend to remedy this rough riddle?

Should I start over at square one and explain that none of the toys she has accumulated in the past two and a half years are really hers? I did already start to explain this, but not to that extent. I told her they were “Family Toys.” I thought going from “Her Toys” to “God’s Toys” was a bit too huge (and abstract) of a leap. But was I wrong to cower from the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me God? Just how much philosophy can a 2.5 year old grasp, anyway?

Besides explaining that possessions are not ours to keep, what practical advice would you give? What rules would you suggest?

Here are some that we thought up:

  • Thou shalt not taketh a toy from thy brother’s hand.
  • Thou shalt not taketh a toy from thy sister’s hand.
  • Thou shalt not throweth a fit when thy brother (or sister) takeths a toy that IS NOT in thy hand.

What has worked for you?