Teasing one of the boys this afternoon, I said they were going to go to jail. Monkey got super serious and started to tear up, "I don't want to go to jail, mommy!".
"If you are a good boy, you will never go to jail!" Then I had an idea. "Why do people go to jail, what do they do that is bad?"
Monkey: If they messer or explode like a ball-cay-no!!! (read: volcano..."messer" has no translation)
Monster: Well, bank robbers go to jail. And, actually, bad guys go to jail.
We discussed robbers, and why stealing is bad. Then we talked about how sometimes it's ok to take things that aren't ours...like the time we found an old discarded toy a the park, or the time the dog brought a ball home that wasn't hers (they still go on and on about the ball and how the dog who had it before is probably really sad our dog took it!). Suddenly, I remember something from long ago and told the boys this story:
Once upon a time I had this doll. She had long blond hair and a small red heart on her chest. When you pushed the heart it would glow, and the doll would sing. I loved her so much and took her everywhere. One day I took her with me to the park. When I got on the swing set, I laid the doll beside the swings on the ground. Right after that it was time to go and as I jumped off the swing and ran to the car, I forgot my heart doll, leaving her behind. At home, I remembered my doll and cried until my dad took me back to the park, but by then someone else had taken my doll home with them.
I told them this story, because it happened to pop into my head, but also to help teach that if it's not yours, don't take it. But, what I didn't realize, was how they would respond! Both got really sad, and then both started to talk at once! We had to take turns so I could hear both their responses:
Monkey: Mommy! We can MAKE you a new doll. We will sew her and put a little heart on her. And we can make her out of WOOD!
Monster: I know! Let's call everyone in this town and ask them if they have seen your doll! And if no one in our town has, well, though, actually, we would have to fly in an air plane or maybe ride in a boat to the next town and call all the people there!!
Monster was very adamant I get my phone and start calling people. I tried to explain it was over 23 years ago, and more than likely the kid that took my doll didn't have it anymore. But, my goodness, what huge hearts my new little "dolls" have!
