MINE!

Property Law As Viewed By A Toddler

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).


I've seen this online a few times, but all of this has just recently started to apply to J~. He doesn't get the opportunity to interact with many kiddos right now (at least at home). So when the one neighborhood tot comes over to play and starts pushing Jacob's lawn mower around... J~ gives a little protest cry and looks over at me as if in disbelief that someone else is touching his stuff! He does great when we're in the house pretending to share things with his Cabbage Patch baby, but I guess it's a little easier to share with an inanimate toy rather than a real life nemesis. ;O)