Chalk and Cheese

I love watching my children and their characters developing. My son is chatty, polite and incredibly thoughtful.His teacher liked his hand knitted scarf so my son wants to learn to knit to make him one. My daughter is not so keen on other people. She really doesn't care what others think, which is a blessing and a curse when it comes to parenting. Today we were having lunch at a local farm. Both had a chocolate bar with their lunch. My son commented he was planning on cutting his in half and giving one half to me. I said how very kind and thoughtful he was but he could eat it himself. My daughter looked at me. She was considering whether being kind and being praised for her thoughtfulness was worth more to her than her milky way. We both laughed as she shoved it all in her mouth in one go. Obviously she decided chocolate was the best course of action after all! She seemed to so desperately want to do the right thing but just couldn't resist taking the choice that put someone else first. Whilst it seems selfish though I have noticed my son will often go without for others. He gives away sweets, gives up his turn on the tv, swaps with his sister. Of course sometimes he has enough and says no. Having been a person who always put her needs last, and it causing much resentment and ultimately loss when it became impossible to carry on being the "yes" lady, I hope he is wiser than me so he can be the kind, generous soul he is but will keep himself well too.