Mine!!!!
In some cultures, the word mine isn’t even in their vocabulary. Without the word “mine,” the concept of ownership isn’t engrained into the psychic lexicon. Imagine the freedom of never feeling like you possessed anything, because everything is everyone’s anyway. Except for my stuff, especially my clothes, and shoes, and jewelry, and hair accessories, and computer, and phone, and Facebook page, because you better keep your grubby hands off my things.
How did the concept of mine ever come into being? Who was that first guy that stuck a stake in the ground and said “This plot of land belongs to me. Any being that dares set foot on my part of the earth, be it man or animal, I will spear their flesh repeatedly until their blood forms a river for me to sail my miniature models of sailboats.” That was one bold person, who also probably had too much time on their hands.
There is a girl in my mommy group who calls every toy she happens to get her paws on “mine.” If another child tries to play with the toy, she will grab the toy back and repeat the word “mine” over and over again until I sort of want to secretly put gum in her hair and tie her shoelaces together. It is not “yours” kid… you just happen to be holding it you little jerk.
But to be empathetic, this girl has an older sister so I am sure there are lots of conversations about what are her things, and what are her sisters. When you only have one child, you don’t really deal with the realm of “mine” because I have no interest in The Munch’s dolls, I have my own blocks, and her clothes don’t fit me because they are too big. I recently went on a diet to get back to my birth weight.
Although The Munch knows that she “wants” certain things, she doesn’t yet feel any ownership to the things that she wants. For example, if she found a pair of scissors and I ask her to “give it to mama” she will, but if I try and take them from her without asking she will surely run away and resist, and you know how dangerous that can be. So even if she does desire certain things, she doesn’t consider anything her possession. I wonder how long I can keep this going? I hope at least until she is a teenager and starts smoking pot because it is never a good look to be stingy with that stuff.
“Ummm I am holding the yummies. I want them. Do you want them too? I guess I will give you some…”
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Emma