Choices

The younger one was whining.

The older one was provoking.

The mother was busy with her reading.

The father felt powerless.

The older one insisted that it was his right to play the PS2. He added that he didnt think the battery would last for the younger one to play. Naturally the younger one got upset. He pleaded with his parents to let him play first, or to tell his brother to stop.

Would you discipline the provocative child? Or would you attend to the whining one?

What would you do?

The mother continued with her reading.

Dad, however, was a high C. He opted to spend time with the whining child to explain why the older sibling was not to be heeded. He was anxious to explain why his decision to allow the older one to use the PS2 was right, and that he was not wrong about the battery life. He set aside the older one to sit next to his younger offspring to try to calm him down.

The older one continued to play. And smirked.

The younger one continued to whine. And was not appeased.

Yes, they were next to me on the plane....