Another lazy Sunday for the family today. Ian requested early on that we stay in our pajamas all day, a request easy enough to fulfill:) It was a day that called for cookies, so this morning the boys and I made a batch of Banana Oatmeal Cookies from Jamaica. Cooking with my boys was fun and took a long time and was a little messy and at the end we all had cookies to enjoy.
Something we worked on as the recipe came together were the basics of sharing; inhabiting the same space, taking turns, reaching out to others. The boys took turns adding the ingredients, mashing the bananas, and stirring the batter. They even shared the same stool in the primo location next to the baking cupboard. After the cookies were made, I told them I would be taking some to share at work, and Ian wished he could take some to share at school. No one complained or whined or pouted about working together. It was a nice reminder for how to maintain the life-long practice of sharing.
Just hours later I made a trip to the grocery store, and tried to live the lessons I teach the boys. I grabbed a few items for the food shelf, and when it came time to check out, offered my spot in an open lane to another woman, older and frail, who was struggling with her cart. She was with another woman who had her hands full of soup cups and couldn't really help her with the cart As I moved into the line in the next lane, giving her my spot, a young guy cut her off with his cart, rushing to get her spot. I was so appalled! My mouth hung open at the back of the line in the other lane. I had a little moment of eye contact with the cashier where we shook our heads, but otherwise the guy paid for his groceries and left.
I'm pretty sure that guy was not rushing off to perform brain surgery, so why make the choice to disregard a moment to share a little time and space? I never want my boys to behave like that guy. I want them to be kind and compassionate and aware of the needs of others, including the anonymous lady at the grocery store. I know that they aren't perfect, and I certainly am not either, but being selfish is easy. Sharing sometimes takes a little sacrifice, but it can be really fun, too, and end with delicious banana cookies.
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