That's what friends do

You know how you say something to your kid and never stop to actually think about how they might use it against you some day? Sometimes you stop and wonder if those little life lessons you teach them from such a young and impressionable age are actually going to stick with them. Will it ever make a difference if you tell them 100 times a day to say 'please' and 'thank you'? You watch from across the room as one kid rips a toy out of the other kids hand only to have an all out slapfest ensue quickly afterward as you desperately try to teach them that hitting is wrong and sharing is good. Eat your vegetables. Don't spit. Say 'Yes ma'am'. Don't spit your gum out on the sidewalk. Blah, blah, blah. Today I discovered that the answer is yes. Yes they do listen. They don't always act accordingly, but they do listen. I've been preaching night and day that we share our toys because that's what friends do. They share. So the a-ha moment happened tonight:

The kids are outside playing after their generous dinner of fish-sticks, apples and soy-milk with cookies for dessert. I, being the last on the pecking order of people who actually eat in this house, disappeared for a moment to grab a banana for myself. I begin to peel said banana.

From across the yard, two happily playing children B-line for said banana. I go to take a bite and Alex reaches up, hand open, and says, "Mom, can I please have that banana?"

I say, "You ate your dinner, this is my banana."

Alex replies, "Now mom, can you share your banana with me please? Because that's what friends do. They share."

I smile, victorious that a lesson has been sufficiently taught and then promptly surrender half my banana to Alex and the other half to Abby. Through my smiles I realize that I'm still hungry and get another banana that I ate in secret in the dark corner of the garage.

Lesson learned...at a price.