The "Me" Stage

Last month Lizzie turned two years old and she was already outspoken in her wants & desires. The last few weeks she seems to be making her needs or wants more known through lots of crying and small tantrums. I remembered this poem that I read  several years ago about toddlers........



Toddler’s Creed

If I want it, it’s mine.
If I give it to you and change my
mind later, it’s mine.
If I can take it away from you,
it’s mine.
If I had it a little while ago,
it’s mine.
If it’s mine, it will never belong to
anyone else, no matter what.
If we are building something together,
all the pieces are mine.
If it looks just like mine,
it is mine. 



 

Can you see the sneakiness in her eyes?

"You may have caught me but I'm still going to try to get away with it."



 Maybe you have a toddler and can relate or you've already raised one so you've been through the "me" stage. After reading this poem, I thought about Lizzie and how she demonstrates her selfishness through crying, lying on the floor, hitting and biting. Then I started to think about myself and how many adults act selfish in similar ways as toddlers. We might not throw our food at our parents, but we sure are convincing to try get our way. We may not take a toy away, but maybe in our hearts we long for that toy that someone else has. Or do you ever catch yourself saying, "That's mine" to your child and wonder where they learned that phrase? I'm not saying it's wrong to teach our children to respect other people's things. I know we all struggle with selfishness. I sometimes don't like to share my food or my time or my toys. My challenge to myself is to be a better example to my children because they will be looking at my actions. Of course, I still need to discipline my children by teaching them the right ways to act & behave. I know that Allan and I need to be demonstrating unselfishness in our home by being more giving of our time, our gifts, being more hospitable and not coveting what other's have. I pray that God will give us the strength each day to do these things in our home. Lizzie will still go through the "It's mine" and "Me" stage, because that's what toddlers do. And we as humans will still go through the "Me" stage until we learn to that we can't do it alone and we need to fully submit ourselves to God. And Allan and I will need to hold our children accountable for their selfish actions until they learn to submit as well.



Miss Lizzie always into something.