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Sunday, April 20, 2008

Two Boys and a Pink Mermaid

Back in the fall, we all took a trip to the aquarium with my mother in law. She bought my older son (OS) a pink mermaid doll at his request. It looks just like a Groovy Girl doll with a tail. He liked it, but other toys definitely took priority. Every once in a while the mermaid would make an appearance and both boys would play with her. I'm not sure exactly when it happened, but suddenly my younger son (YS) was playing more and more with her. I think it may have started when he wanted to play with OS's favorite toy which is a ratty Groovy Girl doll. Not wanting to part with her, I think he may have given YS the mermaid as a temporary distraction. It was effective, but it proved not to be so temporary. Around the same time, the boys also watched the Little Mermaid at a friend's house. They began to request it at home. Whether it was a single event or a combination of events, one thing is for sure: YS is attached to the pink mermaid. He always wants the pink mermaid.

Of course you more experienced parents may know where this one is going. Now OS is claiming ownership on the mermaid. I know he really has no interest in it except to exert his claim over it. Needless to say, this has caused enough tears from each boy to float a mermaid, although OS now seems to understand the mermaid is YS's special toy. He gained understanding from my promise to take them to the aquarium (which should be a treat in itself) to buy him a new mermaid. Not surprisingly OS wasn't happy about this last part. He wants the original mermaid, which technically was of course his. The mermaid that now has a ripped tail and is covered in who knows. The mermaid that has already had numerous baths in the washing machine and needs another one.

A. Elliot's Lesson Learned: It's never too late to stake ownership on a toy.

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posted by Alex Elliot @ 8:40 PM   3 comments
3 Comments:
  • At 4/21/2008 6:20 AM, Blogger Sally HP said…

    Oh my! But would OS be just as jazzed to have YS get a new one while he keeps the old one? I'm sure you'll be able to 'sell' the new one to OS..Hmmmm, wonder what H is going to want next? :)

     
  • At 4/21/2008 6:25 AM, Blogger Chantelle said…

    For me and my sister it was a dolphin bookmark. My mom ended taking the contested item away so that no one could have it. Twenty some years later, we are best friends, but I can still strongly recall the feelings of resentment I felt when she took my darn bookmark. Silly isn't it?
    Then again, we shared clothing all through high school and neither of us tends to steal stuff from other people anymore. I guess, if you can't learn the lessons of possession and sharing with your siblings, where can you learn them.
    I bet those two are going to laugh about that mermaid someday.

     
  • At 4/21/2008 7:39 AM, Blogger Heather said…

    Ah, sibling rivalry. It's so fun. NOT.

     
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Name:Alex Elliot
Home:MA, United States
About Me:Professional Mom of two cats, a dog, an ant farm, and oh yeah...two boys: a 6 year old and a 3 year old. Also found in my house is my husband who is known on this blog as The Big Giraffe.
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