A few weeks ago, my two little cousins came over to spend the night with Gracie and me to celebrate the Chinese New Year together. My mother found this poem of an anonymous writer that describes a toddler’s perspective. I could not help but to be reminded of my little cousins and Gracie when I read this poem for the first time. I am sure if you are the older sibling to a toddler brother or sister then you should be able to identify with this.

Toddler Rules of Property
If I like it, it is mine.
If it is in my hand, it is mine.
If I can take it from you, it is mine.
If I had it a little while ago, it is mine.
If it looks just like mine, it is mine.
If I saw it first, it is mine.
If I am doing something or building something and you put it down, it automatically becomes mine.
If it is mine, it must never appear to be yours in any way.
If it is broken, it is yours.
If it is broken, where is mine?
-Anonymous

I had to stop and laugh when I read this as I watched Gracie, Jack and Meleah play together. On occasion my mom and I would run into a few problems that needed to be corrected such as if one had the beach ball then the other would want to play with it. If a toy was in someone’s hands and the other child wanted it, on occasion it would be taken away. If one saw a toy first and another went to play with it then the argument would be that the one who saw it first, it should be theirs.

Over all the three musketeers play and behave very well but there were times my mom and I would have to play referee. As much as we hated to be the bad guys at times, we knew this was for their good.

As an older sibling and an older cousin I believe it is not just my parents and Jack and Meleah’s parents to teach Gracie, Jack and Meleah the importance of learning that everything should not be theirs. I believe I am responsible as well to teach them these value lessons. It is very important for them to learn the importance of sharing. It is also important that they learn responsibility toward others and most of all “that the world does not revolve around them”.

My parents and I strive to teach Gracie the importance that the “I” must become less and that working together, sharing and even allowing others to go before her is a very important lesson to learn. By me teaching her this I must do my part to remember this myself.

Our younger siblings are looking up to us and as far as I am concerned I hope Gracie will see a sister that is not self-centered and that I try to put others first.