Behave

"Go and sit on the stairs and think about what you have done."

Mary didn’t like this. 

She was told to sit on the step again!

She wasn’t even sure what she had done.

She tried to think.

She was playing with a ball, mum said not in the house, so she found a smaller ball.

Mum asked her to take it outside so nothing would get broken.

Mary didn’t like that suggestion so she threw the ball down, to which it bounced and smashed a picture frame!

Mum stood up and marched Mary away and tell her why she had done it and the reasons why she had done it.

Mary thought, and thought some more.  She threw the ball because she was annoyed and she was bored, but she couldn’t have known what the ball was going to do!

But she did throw it a bit hard, and with a bit more strength than she should have done.

Should she have thrown it at all???

No she shouldn't have.

Now Mary knew what she had done, and she could see why mum got angry.

Mum came out to the corridor to join Mary on the step.

“Have you thought about what just happened Mary? “ Asked Mum.

“Yes” said Mary very quietly.

“OK, why was it wrong?” asked mum.

“I threw the ball too hard.” Said Mary.

“Its not just that Mary you know not to throw anything indoors, its not a playing field. You could’ve hurt Joe or me or yourself! Said mum its not just you in the room and its not just your items, they are everyone’s, and you need to remember everyone has the right to their items and their space too.”

“I know” said Mary.

“What will you do next time?” asked mum.

“I’ll take the ball outside or I’ll draw with my pencils.”

“Would you like to go into the lounge and draw something now?”

Mary was quiet and looked down

“Its alright, Mary, but only if you know why I was angry and know why I won't let you to do it again”.

“You don’t want me to throw things about as things get broken and people could get hurt?” said Mary hoping that was right.

“Yes Mary, now doesn’t that sound sensible?”

“Yes “ replied Mary while shuffling her feet.

“Good let go back inside and see if we can get some beautiful pictures drawn for the kitchen wall”.

©joannehepburn