
The kids play nicely together, for the most part.
Lately they've been playing trains a lot. Otto's outgrown his Thomas stuff, but Bel has really been enjoying it and when she wants to play he's happy to join in.
This afternoon they were running trains around an oval track when Bel erupted into a total sobbing, crying meltdown.
"Otto take my train!" she wailed. And when Bel wails, you notice.
I tried asking if she was sharing like she's supposed to, but she was too upset to answer. Otto was holding Gordon hostage over his head, and she kept reaching for him. I asked if I needed to put the trains away -- almost guaranteed to get them to settle down if sharing is the problem -- and still she cried. I finally made out "I was using it!" from between sobs.
"Otto," I said, "was Annabel using the train when you took it?"
"I had it first!" he said, blue eyes guileless.
"That's not the question I asked," I said. "Was Bel using the train when you took it?"
He looked down. "Yes," he said, and tossed Gordon on the floor.
Bel retrieved the engine while I told them both that they can't just take things from each other, they need to ask if it's OK first.
And then I looked at my 6 yr old again and thought, wait a second. He just gave me a really sneaky answer, didn't he?
I think I'm going to have to start taking DHA supplements and playing suduko to try and keep up.
Oh, WHO AM I KIDDING.

