Last week my boss told me she is going to have me work full-time with the two-year-olds instead of the three-year-olds. Funnily enough, I am actually relieved by the change; some people would think I'm crazy for choosing two-year-olds over three-year-olds, but honestly, I think the two-year-olds are easier to handle. Of course, my self-conscious side immediately got defensive when I found out about the change. What if my boss had found out that I'd been having a hard time with the three-year-olds and didn't think I was able to handle them? (Is it possible to be demoted in a daycare?) I finally had to just get up the courage and ask her, because I knew my mind would never let it rest otherwise. It turns out that she had noticed that I'd been having a hard time with the three-year-olds, but she said that that observation was just the final item in a series of events that convinced her that moving me was the best thing to do. So yes, she did notice, but no, she doesn't think I'm incompetent. I have to remember that just because the two-year-olds are easier for me than the three-year-olds doesn't mean that's the case for everyone, so moving me doesn't mean I've been "demoted." And even if the self-conscious side of me needs to get over some serious misgivings, the rest of me can't help but see this as a huge blessing. I love the two-year-olds! They're much easier for me to handle, and it helps that last summer I spent time bouncing from class to class, so I know many of the two-year-olds already, since I often worked with them in the toddler class last year. I'm definitely glad I switched, even if I'm not totally happy with the circumstances under which the switch was made.
Working with the two-year-olds, I am often reminded of something I came across last summer in the course of my work. I often come home from work and tell my family about some of the funny things that happened at work that day. In response to one of the anecdotes I told my mom, she showed me this set of "laws." The title says they're according to a toddler, but I think that anyone who has worked with children to any degree will agree with me when I say that they apply to just about anyone under the age of 10. :) This basically sums up the children's attitude at the daycare, and I thought it was absolutely hilarious!
Property Law According to a Toddler (or a two-year-old!)
1. If I like it, it's mine.
2. If it's in my hand, it's mine.
3. If I can take it from you, it's mine.
4. If I had it a little while ago, it's mine.
5. If it's mine, it must never appear to be yours in any way.
6. If I'm doing or building something, all the pieces are mine.
7. If it looks like it's mine, it's mine.
8. If I saw it first, it's mine.
9. If I can see it, it's mine.
10. If I think it's mine, it's mine.
11. If I want it, it's mine.
12. If I "need" it, it's mine (yes, I know the difference between "want" and "need"!).
13. If I say it's mine, it's mine.
14. If you don't stop me from playing with it, it's mine.
15. If you tell me I can play with it, it's mine.
16. If it will upset me too much when you take it away from me, it's mine.
17. If I (think I) can play with it better than you can, it's mine.
18. If I play with it long enough, it's mine.
19. If you are playing with something and you put it down, it's mine.
20. If it's broken, it's yours (no wait, all the pieces are mine).
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