Holding Your Breath #2

Have you ever watched a child open a present with baited breath? We have.

Very young children, as you likely know, say what’s on their minds. (Some adults do, too, but hopefully they have more of a brain filter.) But when we’re talking the pre-school set, there’s a 50-50 chance that the unwrapped present will be met with squeals of joy or complete rejection.

A friend of ours tells how her 3-year-old daughter begged for a Pillow Pet - a combination pillow/stuffed animal that is huge right now - last Christmas. She got her ladybug Pillow Pet from her grandmother. Happiness all around.

Cut to a week after Christmas, when a visiting family member gave the child yet another Pillow Pet (a dog one, this time).

Oops.

“Her reaction was nothing less than embarrassing,” the mom remembers.

The child looked at the gift, declared, “I already have one,” began crying, yelled, “I don’t want it!” and then stormed out of the room.

“I wish she had just said thanks and left it at that,” says the mom.

You can instruct a child to say “thank you” until you’re blue in the face, but that doesn’t mean it always happens! Continue to guide them and it will sink in...and one day, you really will be able to look back and laugh about the Pillow Pet.

Have a Holding Your Breath moment to share? Contact us on Twitter, Facebook or e-mail us to send in your stories!