My food. My toy. My milk. My slide. My crayon.

These are all phrases we’ve heard from Jamie over the last few weeks. Mine. Mine. Mine.

I knew this is a phase toddlers go through, and I was somewhat prepared for it. So when he starts labeling everything as his, I’ll randomly ask if he’s willing to share. Sometimes he’ll hand it over. Sometimes I’ll get a big tantrummy “NOOOOO!!!!”

There is one thing that caught me somewhat off guard in his declaring possession of everything he lays eyes on – this habit goes past physical objects, but also applies to experiences and people.

As I left for work the other day, I was later informed that Jamie yelled at the cat: “CAT NOOOO!!! THAT’S MY BYE BYE!!!!”

To clarify, I did not say goodbye to the cat. But it shouldn’t matter if I did.

When I pick him up from daycare, I do not need to ring the doorbell. If my son is not presently looking out the window, I simply need to knock. He’ll stand up, running to the door.

“MY DADDY!! MY DADDY!!”

I know I need to continue encouraging the idea of sharing. I know I need to find ways to break him of labeling everything in the world as his. But there are occurrences that melt your heart and make you laugh and smile.

Possession is a concept tough to grasp for a toddler. Like time, it’s something that can leave them staring blankly if you try to explain. Being around a toddler gives me some strange perspective on what it must have been like to be an early American settler.

“IT’S MINE! IT’S MINE! IT’S MINE!”

Hearing this refrain multiple times a day has a strange way of making me feel randomly territorial. Next time he says “MY HOUSE!!” maybe I’ll remind him that he could make a mortgage payment.

Yes. If he wants more stuff, he’ll need to start pulling his weight.

 

 

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