Sharing

Eli is generally pretty sweet with other kids. He is social and likes kids. So whenever we go to the splash pad near us I make a point to take several water toys so that if other kids are there I can hand them out. I'm glad that (so far!) Eli seems to have little trouble letting go of his "stuff", like the idea of possession isn't entirely there (unless we are at home and one of his parents wants it :) yet. So I love the beauty in kids sharing without being told or even understanding it beyond this very organic gesture of friendship. This little girl became fast friends with Eli over a shovel that they together shared with a four legged friend (well, they each had a shovel). And Eli has been on the receiving end of many a kind gesture of sharing, letting me enjoy watching my son playing and sharing other kids toys. So I definitely refrain from the "it's not your toy!" when we are out playing. (Of course there is still sadness or tears sometimes over toys he wants to play with, but often it has nothing to do with 'whose' toy it is and can be quickly fixed by the kids themselves.)