ugh! sometimes i could really use an instruction manual for Cash. Devin and Shannon (and Riley and Frank, our neighbors) are so nice and sweet and always share all their toys with our boys and I feel like Cash is so ungrateful. I totally get it that a three year old can't or wont totally grasp the concept of being polite - especially when you are having so much fun you never want it to end. But something has to change with Cash. Tonight he pushed Devin off the bike and flat out refused to apologize. It wouldn't have been a big deal except that Cash threw a fit when I asked him to say he was sorry. Devin wasn't hurt (thankfully) but his feelings were and I could tell that he could have used an apology. Of course, this ruined our evening play time and the party was over. Three and four year olds are so funny and honest. Cash didn't want to tell Devin he was sorry. And in turn, Devin vowed never to play with Cash again.
We got home and before any stories at bedtime I talked a long time to Cash about how important it was to treat your friends nicely and that I really wasn't happy that he did that to his friend and that he wouldn't apologize. He said, "but mommy, I was having so much fun on that bike I didn't want Devin to have it." And really, I get that but I just can't figure out how you explain cause and effect to a three year old. How do I get him to understand that if he pushes Devin (or anyone) the fun will stop. And the fun stopped as a direct result of something you did. And if you just wouldn't do stuff like that you could have a lot more fun. It's really the "if you're good then we can have a lot more fun" concept that I can't seem to get him to understand. He's incredibly impatient. And to be honest, it's embarrassing.
It's embarrassing to have the kid that freaks out when he doesn't get his way. When he should be old enough to at least get it a little bit. Devin gets it. I really hope we are going through some sort of phase right now because the past two weeks have been especially trying and I'm worried that Chandler and I will just pack our bags and leave soon.