Sharing is a difficult concept. George is not having fun learning how to share, despite how many times I say "Sharing is fun! Isn't it nice to share?"
Last week at the park we had a major meltdown over a large Tonka truck. One of our friends had brought the Tonka truck. It is a large scale, plastic model, that you can walk behind and push. It is a very cool truck. All of the kids at the park wanted to play with it, boy and girl alike. But I think George loved it most of all. At least, that's what I think he was trying to tell me when he would fling himself onto the ground kicking and screaming whenever anyone else wanted to play with the truck. Even the truck's owner just dropped open his mouth and stared at this older boy throwing such a tantrum. During the hour time period that we played with the truck, George must have thrown at least a dozen tantrums whenever I made him share the truck with the other children. He'd cry and scream and thrash and generally make a big scene. I'd just pick him up and carry him to less populous place in the park, cuddle and comfort him, and help him to calm down. I really didn't put much stock into the genuineness of his theatrics though especially when he stopped mid-tantrum to tell me about a dog that was walking past. It went something like this:
George cries, "Whaaa----whaaaa---whaaa!" He throws his head back in protest.
George looks around and sees a dog in the parking lot. He stops crying and instantaneously starts saying "Woof! Woof!"
I say "Yes, that is a doggie." He remembers that he's mad at me and supposed to be crying, so he starts wailing again. "Whaa! Whaa! Whaa!"
I was finally able to get George interested in something else (the drinking fountain) and we ended up having a peaceful ending to our park playdate. The next day one of my friends shared a funny story that happened in her household the previous night.
Little Girl: "We went to the park today."
Daddy: "Who was at the park?"
Little Girl: "George."
Mommy: "What did George do at the park?"
Little Girl: "George cried!"