Listen / No hitting

Listen

========

Liya has a hat in the shape of an owl, she stuffed it with some small toys and showed to me:

"Mommy, here are some surprise presents. If you listen, and listen really well, you'll get a present at the end of the day."

I asked:"Will you listen? Listen to mommy and daddy?"

She said:"No, it's not just for me and Clara, it's for everyone in the family. Everybody has to listen."

I said:"Listen to whom?"

She came over and whispered in my ears:"Listen to yourself." and put her hand on my chest:"Here."

She giggled, in a teasing way:"You know everything already, Mommy, you just don't listen, but you'll get a surprise present if you do."

====

No Hitting

The sisters were coloring at the table, and Clara wanted the pencil that Liya was using. Liya didn't want to give it to her, so Clara hit Liya.

I said:"Clara! No hitting!"

She looked at me innocently, and "bang!", she hit Liya again on the head.

I thought Liya was going to scream, but she didn't.

She turned around to face her sister:"Clara my darling, you say that you love me, but hitting hurts me, so please stop." 

Clara raised her hand and hit her again on the head, at that point I was ready to stand up to intervene, then I heard Liya say:

"We don't hurt people that we love, but I guess you're just a toddler and you don't know what you're doing. I still love you, here is the pencil."

Clara took it and smiled. Liya said:"Now say 'Thank you Liya'", Clara said:"Thank you Liya."

Then the sisters went back to coloring, happily and peacefully.

I realized that I didn't have to do anything, I trust that my kids can work things out on their own. They're magically bonded by something called "love".