Thursday, July 31, 2008

Ruminatively Rousseau

A true story, if such a thing exists:

Kate and Ella, two adorable toddlers, play together one evening at Ella's house. It just so happens that there had been a wonderful party there the day before, and at that party two very shiny balloons were left floating magically in the air. In an effort to promote sweet camaraderie, Ella offers one of the balloons to Kate with the idea that they could play together and share something nice. Kate's eyes widen. "How generous of Ella to offer me something so lovely," she thinks and accepts the beautiful balloon with great enthusiasm. Ella thinks, "How nice of Kate to play with me!" A smile adorns both of the girls' faces and they twirl and laugh together, balloons flying. All is well in the universe.

And then..

Kate looks at Ella's balloon, the silver sparkling in the light, and wonders, "If holding one balloon feels this great, how would it be to hold both of them?" And even though she understands that her one balloon is a very nice prize, Kate decides that only holding one is not enough. She wants all of the balloons for herself. She decides that she will do anything she can to get what Ella has, no matter the cost or who it hurts. Kate yells and lunges at the unsuspecting Ella, hands snatching, jaw gnashing. Ella pulls back, not understanding what is happening and is frightened by the turn of Kate's hand. She screams, alerting the grown-ups to the fact that all is not well anymore. The laughter is over. The twirling has stopped.

Kate's parent urgently grabs Kate's arm, and firmly tells her in a most severe voice, "No! You do not take what is not yours! Friends do not take from each other. Friends are supposed to share." She then pulls Kate into the corner for a much deserved time out. Kate stands there and shrieks, for even though her mother tried to explain friendship and sharing, she doesn't understand why she can't have it all.


What a pitiful sight - the sad little girl in the corner holding only one shiny balloon.


The grown-ups in the room, though sympathetic, sit uncomfortably still, a little alarmed by all of the broken harmony. Their eyes track to the empty corners of the room. They hold their breath. And though they exhale a collective laugh in an effort to make the mood lighter, a hint of color tip-toes across their cheeks.

No comments:

Thursday, July 31, 2008

Ruminatively Rousseau

A true story, if such a thing exists:

Kate and Ella, two adorable toddlers, play together one evening at Ella's house. It just so happens that there had been a wonderful party there the day before, and at that party two very shiny balloons were left floating magically in the air. In an effort to promote sweet camaraderie, Ella offers one of the balloons to Kate with the idea that they could play together and share something nice. Kate's eyes widen. "How generous of Ella to offer me something so lovely," she thinks and accepts the beautiful balloon with great enthusiasm. Ella thinks, "How nice of Kate to play with me!" A smile adorns both of the girls' faces and they twirl and laugh together, balloons flying. All is well in the universe.

And then..

Kate looks at Ella's balloon, the silver sparkling in the light, and wonders, "If holding one balloon feels this great, how would it be to hold both of them?" And even though she understands that her one balloon is a very nice prize, Kate decides that only holding one is not enough. She wants all of the balloons for herself. She decides that she will do anything she can to get what Ella has, no matter the cost or who it hurts. Kate yells and lunges at the unsuspecting Ella, hands snatching, jaw gnashing. Ella pulls back, not understanding what is happening and is frightened by the turn of Kate's hand. She screams, alerting the grown-ups to the fact that all is not well anymore. The laughter is over. The twirling has stopped.

Kate's parent urgently grabs Kate's arm, and firmly tells her in a most severe voice, "No! You do not take what is not yours! Friends do not take from each other. Friends are supposed to share." She then pulls Kate into the corner for a much deserved time out. Kate stands there and shrieks, for even though her mother tried to explain friendship and sharing, she doesn't understand why she can't have it all.


What a pitiful sight - the sad little girl in the corner holding only one shiny balloon.


The grown-ups in the room, though sympathetic, sit uncomfortably still, a little alarmed by all of the broken harmony. Their eyes track to the empty corners of the room. They hold their breath. And though they exhale a collective laugh in an effort to make the mood lighter, a hint of color tip-toes across their cheeks.

No comments: