Late this summer I announced to K & O that “now that they’re THREE!!!” they can “have gum!!!” It was a big huge deal to them. They were very excited. They’d tell me over and over and over: “‘Ittle babies can’t have gum! No! 2-year-‘solds can’t have gum! No no! Ony FHREE-year-‘solds can have gum! Yes!”
For one, gum became a quick fix for every worldly (and bodily) problem. Feeling cranky? Gum will fix it! On the floor in a terrible tantrum? The mere mention of gum snaps him right out! Got a boo-boo? Gum cures all (including, we’ve learned from experience, bloody scraped knees and ‘owies in the belly’). Gum has become a daily obsession: “Can I have gum? Very, very very, very please can I please have gum?”
For the other, gum became a quick downer. As soon as he realized that gum is not to be swallowed the thrill was gone. The illusion was smashed. You can’t eat it???? What the heck? Then why on earth would anyone bother with it? He seems to think the rest of us gum-chewers are off-our-rockers. He raises his nose in the air at the mere mention of gum. He tried it once. That was enough for him. Now, when gum is mentioned, he simply says, “No thank you.” Then quickly: “Can I have fruit snacks?”
Owen loves gum. He can’t seem to get enough of it.
Kyle hates gum. He can’t seem to get why anyone would want to chew it.