Wondering what you think about what happed with my ds today

[Evening Mist]

I took my 3 yo shopping for a friend's birthday party this morning. He picked out an appropriate toy and we got in line. Then he decided he actually wanted to keep the toy himself. So I pulled him back out of line to talk to him, and I did my best to help him undestand that he was not going to get a toy today, we were there to pick a toy for his friend. He was very sad. He spent a long time vascilating between putting the toy back so nobody would have it, and getting the toy for his friend. I stood back and let him think it through and tried not to press him in either direction. There were a few tears. Things like this can be so gut wrenching for a small child.

On his own, he finally decided that he really wanted his friend to have the toy, so we got back in line to purchase it. When it was our turn, the clerk informed us in a super friendly voice that the toy we choose was on special today! "Buy one, get one free." I turned around to check the sign over the display, and sure enough, the toy was buy one get one free. In the end, my son walked out carrying a toy for his friend and one for himself.

At first, I felt frustrated. It seemed like my whole plan to teach him generosity had backfired in my face. *I* had not wanted my son to walk out of the store with a toy for himself today!!! *I* had a plan and an agenda, and *I* didn't like having that plan thwarted! But after I got home and cooled off a little bit, I started to wonder if there was another way to look at it. I started to wonder if God was trying to teach him something else -- something about generosity and blessings.

At anyrate, I wondered what you all would think of the event?

 

[epiclesis]

I'm not a parent, but I think that was a good way for your son to be rewarded for his good judgment. But that's just my opinion. (probably a crazy one at that )

 

[HesMyAll]

I think it was wonderful that your son was blessed to get the toy after all. He did decide to get the toy for his friend before he found out he could have one himself so I believe that he did learn something from it. You should be very proud of him, he did make the right decision. He is a great testimony to your parenting skills.

 

[lucypevensie]

You really did a good thing in helping him to learn generosity and how to help people feel special on their special days

I think it's fine that he got a special toy too as an added bonus. He will have many more opportunities to be challenged in this area of his life (being generous). I doubt that most kids learn this lesson from just one example. Think ahead to the next birthday party...and the next...and the next...

 

[Tini]

Great lessons on sharing and God always wanting the best for us could also come out of this. I think you handled the situation well.

 

[BeanMak]

God is good