Toy sharing?

Luke is learning to play with his sister.  Some days he does well, while other days he acts like a bully and won’t let his sister do anything.  One day I had both diaper bags by the door, all packed and ready to go and Luke goes over to his sister’s bag and pulls out her bottle.  Then he decides to be nice and hands it over to his sister.  He even let her play with it, and didn’t try to take it back (like he usually does).  I thought that was a very nice “big brother” thing to do.

Some days he isn’t so nice, another day our baby girl had a hold of one of those stacking rings.  Luke came over and took it right out of her hands.  Then later that day our baby girl was playing with the same ring, and when Luke came over to take it she held on for dear life.  She had an “iron grip” and did not let go. Luke just kept trying to get it, but in the end his sister had the better hold on the ring.  She wasn’t about to let her brother take that toy.

Since that day Luke has gotten more inventive with how he goes after the toys.  It is like he waits for the right opportunity, when his sister doesn’t have such a good hold on the toy. 

Just last night Luke got a hold of our cordless phone and was playing with it.  Our baby girl somehow got the phone from Luke, but then Luke took it right back.  Of course Luke’s sister wouldn’t stand for that, so she screamed as loud as possible…to bring in reinforcements, otherwise known as “mommy”.  When mommy gave her the phone, she stopped screaming but then Luke (who was not about to give up the phone) reached over and took the phone again.  Which then led to sister crying loud again for someone to help her…again. 

After laughing, I simply took the phone away.  After all if they can’t share, they shouldn’t have it to begin with.  Maybe one day they’ll learn….I can always hope.