Written on October 10, 2007 1:42 PM
Sharing. Ah, the biggest nuisance to a small child’s happy and generally carefree existence.
Whether at home or at the playground, four year olds like me are constantly having the words “You must share” barked at us by those pesky big people who take care of us.
It’s such a bummer.
You secure yourself the best digger in the sandpit and then some other kid comes along and wants a turn and you’re told, “Come on, honey. Give them a turn. You’ve had the digger for ten minutes. You must share.” And then it happens, the prized yellow digger with its cool scoop and swivelly backloader, which you were just using to dig and elaborate maze of tunnels and holes, is ripped from your hands and given to some snotty-nosed child who clearly isn’t that interested in the digger and dumps it a minute later in favor of a bright pink pail.
Oh, and then there’s the times your parents invite a whole bunch of other big people and kids to your house supposedly for your entertainment. These other kids – who you’re constantly told are your “friends” – start playing with your toys and smashing them around in a fashion that appalls you. When you object to these goings on with whines, tears and shouts, the big people say unhelpful things like “you’ve been so kind sharing your things.” Then, in a moment of madness, you allow one child to play with your prized Lightening McQueen toy car and they “accidentally” drop it down the toilet and flush it away. You throw a blue fit and are told, “We will buy you a new Lightening McQueen immediately.” You know it’s a lie, of course. Your parents hate that Cars movie and are glad to see McQueen’s smiling Pixar face disappear into NYC’s sewerage system.
In my mind, all this sharing business constitutes a human rights violation.
Plus, there seems a lot of double standards going on. I mean, when I ask my mum if I can “share” her laptop or ask my dad if I can “share” his power saw or electric shaver, the answer is always a definitive, “No!” I try the “You must share” line, but all this prompts is some laughter and more “nos”. Furthermore, I don’t see them “sharing” much with anyone else either. My parents lend their laptops to no one. They hog their margaritas when we go out to restaurants, never giving their friends even the smallest of sips. But do I shout, “You’ve had a turn with that cocktail, now its someone else’s?” No, I do not. I understand all too well what its like to want to guard something you’re enjoying, to want to hold on to it for dear life.
So, big people, next time you bark “You must share” at your son or daughter, just take a moment and think. Are you enacting a hypocritical, double standard on a defenseless young child? Perhaps you are.
Please visit my blog at http://theworldaccordingtobenny.blogspot.com/and also my mum's at http://joannerendell.blogspot.com/
