The Healing Power of Oreos

When there is an argument between any of our children, everything stops (for them) and they are sent to privately talk through things.  Fun does not resume for either of them until they have worked through their issue(s).  Sometimes this can take a while because one person is more willing to talk than another.  This was the case today with Christina and Thomas.

An argument erupted between Christina and Thomas while they played Mario Cart and Thomas lost his temper.  Game Cube was turned off and Thomas was really upset.  I sent them to work things out and Thomas clearly did not want to talk, so Christina had to wait...and wait...and wait.  Next thing I knew they both came up to me and said they had talked things out.  I took them both to my room and sat down to talk with them since this kind of thing has been happening a little too often with these two, and I thought we aught to talk about preventing such reoccurances.

We had a prayer.  I was touched that Thomas prayed that we would have the Spirit during our talk.  Thomas started to recount the argument.  He recalled how he flipped out and went off to be by himself and cool down.  He said, "When Christina first came to me to talk, I didn't feel like talking.  When she came back the second time, I still didn't want to talk, but then she came back with Oreos, and I listened to her."

How brilliant is that?  I mean, really!  I've always essentially commanded and expected attention in situations like this where I've needed to talk things out.  I've never thought of extending a physical olive branch...something as simple as an Oreo cookie...to show my underlying love, and to break down some of the hurt and anger.  Thank you, Christina.  I'm going to remember this lesson forever.