Two weeks back, Christian went to the MIL's house, where there were some presents under the tree. He ran to the tree, picked a present up, asked/said "Is this for me" and began ripping the paper off it.
P gave him a shelling and Christian ran devastated to hide in a room, crying "I have no presents"...P felt really bad cos he saw how crushed Christian looked. The MIL told P off for being so harsh, and went in to soothe him.
P thinks Christian's self-esteem must be at a all-time low, perhaps due to the arrival of his baby sister, and that we should all try to be more sensitive around him.
Anyway, I remembered this episode, and took pains to point to the presents under our tree yesterday, letting him know that he has a present from my mum and dad, and one from us too. I belaboured the point "You see, you have presents too.. Godma and Godpa will be giving you presents too..."
He asked "Why Gugu don't have present?" I was puzzled why he blurted that out, and he thought I didn't understand him, so he rephrased himself "Why Qiqi Jiejie's mama don't have present?" I realise now, that he was asking because I had only giftwrapped two presents for P's nieces, but had none for P's sister. Anw, i skirted the question and returned to the point about him having more presents.
He surprised me by saying "But I don't need any more presents." Pointing to the two under the tree "See, I already have presents, I don't need anymore."
Children can be so easily contented, if we don't build up expectations within them.
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