Needs and Wants

My children are children of the first world. They have a lot of first world problems, like being out of Havarti cheese and having to eat their grilled cheese on sourdough with Gruyere instead. Or not being able to find the other black Mary Jane shoe, and having to wear the red pair instead. Or wondering why the video is taking SO long to load on the iPad. They also confuse the meanings of the words "NEED" and "WANT" on a routine basis.

They might not NEED to use the iPad, but sometimes
Mommy and Daddy need them to sit nicely for a few minutes
while the kitchen cleans itself.

One morning, I was trying to coax the twins down the stairs when Julia (age 2 1/2) halted in the middle of the steps, stuck her hands out, and screamed, "I NEED MY NAILS PAINTED!"  I couldn't compute, and said dumbly, "What?"   She repeated herself, louder this time, because as we all know, when someone doesn't understand your language, the best thing to do is to speak LOUDER.

"I NEED MY NAILS PAINTED!"  

I tried to tell her gently, "Honey, you don't NEED your nails painted. You NEED to come downstairs and eat your breakfast."  That went absolutely nowhere, and resulted in her getting carried, kicking and screaming, down the rest of the stairs. Why? Because her old nail polish had chipped off. Yes, that's right.  Her old nail polish.  She lives in the first world.

More often than an early morning manicure,
what Julia NEEDS are her fairy wings and tutu.
Just having one ballet slipper doesn't seem to bother her.

The best is when I try to point out the difference between NEEDS and WANTS, and this launches a debate between my older children. I'm paraphrasing wildly here, because I can't remember the exact conversation.

Allison:  I need milk.
Michael: You don't NEED milk.
Allison: YES, I do. I need some milk. I don't have any.
Michael: No, you WANT milk.
Allison: No, I NEED milk, because how else will my bones grow?
Me: Listen, here's your milk. I NEED you guys to speak nicely to each other, and say please and thank you.

All I really can do is to try to teach them to be grateful that all of their NEEDS and most of their wants are met, and that they are fortunate to have their health and all of their innate gifts.  And, oh yeah, that they grow up to be hard-working, responsible adults. Who eventually have children that provide as much laughter and as many challenges and exasperated moments as they have given me and my husband.

I would agree with the kids that books are a NEED.
Pants are more of an optional thing.