Misbehaving

Mary was bored, bored, bored.

Joe was sleeping so she couldn’t even play or even tickle him for fun.  All of her toys were even boring today, and couldn’t think of anything to draw or paint or make out of play dough. 

No thoughts sounded exiting, just boring things that Mary had done so many times before.

What to do? 

What was new and exiting to do?

What was interesting to do?

Mary picked up and started bouncing a ball thinking of something interesting to do.

“Take that outside please Mary, “Mum requested, “not in the house please Mary.”

Mary found a slightly smaller ball, but carried on bouncing it anyway.

“Take the ball outside so nothing will get broken please Mary.”  Instructed mum again, a little bit more cross this time..

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

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

Mary didn’t like this.  Mary wasn’t even sure what she had done!

Mary sat on the stairs and tried to think.

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 the ball?

No she shouldn't have.  Now there could be broken glass on the floor that joe or mum could cut themselves on!

OH no, now Mary knew what she had done, and she could see now why mum got angry.

After a few minutes mum came out to the corridor to join Mary on the step.

“Have you thought about what 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 things, 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.”

Mary was quiet and looked down

“Its alright, Mary, but only if you know why I was angry and know why I won't like 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,” nodded mum with a smile, “Now lets go back inside and see if we can get some beautiful pictures drawn to put up on the the kitchen wall”.

©joannehepburn 05.95.2016