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My daughter was born in 2008 and I watched her go from being a baby to a toddler to a pre-schooler and of course all the personality changes that go with it.
She was the sweetest little toddler and would share anything she had. Suddenly overnight she changed and became what I can only term as a very mean spirited child. We were most perturbed as we had always brought her up to know that sharing and kindness and respect for your fellow man was paramount.
After a good couple of months of her being most difficult I decided one day to have a toy declutter and get some stuff together for the orphanage. This was met with total refusal so I did my best to calm her and explain why I was doing it. I decided for the first time to take her with so she could see what it was all about.
Upon arrival and taking the box of toys out the car the tantrums started again so I asked her to stay with my husband in the car while I went in. While I had been busy she had climbed out and gone to the playground. On my way to fetch her I saw one of the most earth shattering moments of my life she had sat down next to a little girl of similar age and was chatting to her she asked her if she had a Mummy or Daddy. The girl said "no" and my daughter looked very perplexed and inquired further about siblings, family etc.
During this conversation she actually started to cry and said "I couldn't imagine life without my Mummy and Daddy". She then gave the girl a hug and her favourite Barbie. She told the girl she could have her as a sister and she understood the little girl was lonely. I was worried that there would be a war because she would suddenly realise she had given away her favourite doll.
I went and asked her if she was sure and all she said to me was "Mummy, I have you and she has nothing. I understand why you give the kids toys, its so they won't be lonely anymore. I think its a good idea".
It was almost like this unbelievable reawakening since that day. She has been her old kind self - she even comes and asks me every few months if its time to take stuff to the kids. She also asks to visit the girl, which we do. The biggest change in my child was that she learnt love and compassion and to me it was the best thing I could ever ask for.
Tiffany
She was the sweetest little toddler and would share anything she had. Suddenly overnight she changed and became what I can only term as a very mean spirited child. We were most perturbed as we had always brought her up to know that sharing and kindness and respect for your fellow man was paramount.
After a good couple of months of her being most difficult I decided one day to have a toy declutter and get some stuff together for the orphanage. This was met with total refusal so I did my best to calm her and explain why I was doing it. I decided for the first time to take her with so she could see what it was all about.
Upon arrival and taking the box of toys out the car the tantrums started again so I asked her to stay with my husband in the car while I went in. While I had been busy she had climbed out and gone to the playground. On my way to fetch her I saw one of the most earth shattering moments of my life she had sat down next to a little girl of similar age and was chatting to her she asked her if she had a Mummy or Daddy. The girl said "no" and my daughter looked very perplexed and inquired further about siblings, family etc.
During this conversation she actually started to cry and said "I couldn't imagine life without my Mummy and Daddy". She then gave the girl a hug and her favourite Barbie. She told the girl she could have her as a sister and she understood the little girl was lonely. I was worried that there would be a war because she would suddenly realise she had given away her favourite doll.
I went and asked her if she was sure and all she said to me was "Mummy, I have you and she has nothing. I understand why you give the kids toys, its so they won't be lonely anymore. I think its a good idea".
It was almost like this unbelievable reawakening since that day. She has been her old kind self - she even comes and asks me every few months if its time to take stuff to the kids. She also asks to visit the girl, which we do. The biggest change in my child was that she learnt love and compassion and to me it was the best thing I could ever ask for.
Tiffany
