Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/the-joy-of-not-giving-up-my-crown/5026159/
Gifted by a child with a “crown” made with connectors. Another child runs over, attempting to take it off my head. I stop her by gently holding the crown.
“Please can I have it?” Nalani screams. The crown’s creator, Kawika, looks at me and I sense the tension, his eyes clearly saying, “But I made it for you.”
Turning to Nalani I say, “Thank you for asking nicely but no, not right now. Kawika worked hard to make this for me.”
Her eyes begin to tear. She stomps her feet and screams, “But I said please,” and her bottom lip begins quivering.
Kawika shouts, “No, I made it for Ms. Alex!” and blocks her from grabbing it.
Nalani yells, “I want it!”
I chime in, “You are sad because you want it.” I turn to Kawika and say, “You worked hard to make it and do not want me to give it away. What should we do?”
Kawika excitedly says, “I show you how to make one!”
Wiping her eyes with the back of her hand, Nalani agrees. “Okay.”
“Come!” he calls her to the connectors. Sitting, she wipes her eyes again, although there are no tears. Grabbing the container, Kawika says, “Watch,” and shows her how to ...