Goldfish Games

Jayden had good intentions of sharing his goldfish with me (or so I thought). He stretched his arm up, cracker in hand, signaling he wanted to share, then tapped its cheddar tail on my tongue, never letting go. After teasing me for awhile he put it into his own mouth. That's the way the game goes. On the rare occasion I’m quick enough to get it. But then his fingers usually try to snag it back.

It kind of makes you proud as a parent the first time, thinking your child is beginning to share. Then as this teasing game continues, you wonder why? Where did this come from? I don’t give Jayden food and then take it away on him, so why would he think this is the way it should be. Yesterday afternoon it hit me. I think I know how this started.

You see since Jayden could get around he’s been putting things into his mouth. It seems to be the ultimate test in deciding if this new found item is good or not. Paper, cardboard, leaves, rocks….they’ve all gone in at least once while I wasn’t looking. When I notice his chewing face, and he knows I’m on to him. He clamps his jaw shut – so I really have to work at getting it out, and usually get my finger bitten in the whole process. So I wonder if the goldfish game is his way of getting even with me, after all I've been stealing away these "tasty" little treasures for half his life.