Last night during storytime, I let Joshua play with one of the old novels I have floating around my night table. He was very enamored with it, and with the idea of a big book, with only words, and no pictures. He wanted Daddy and I to read it to him. He was busy flipping through the pages, when suddenly, a huge rip startled him. He had ripped one of the pages of the book. He immediately knew he did something wrong. In the past, when something like this happened, he would grin and continue on. But last night, he stopped short and stared at the book. Then at me. And he said “uh-oh” in a very quiet voice. He kept staring at the book and saying “uh-oh” in that quiet voice a few more times. I reassured him that it was ok and that he needed to be gentle next time. Even after Tim told him to kiss Mommy sorry (which he did), and took the book away saying “Daddy will fix it”, he still felt remorseful. I think if he could, he would have said “I’m sorry”.
This is the first time I’ve actually seen him express any remorse for his actions, and I’m pleasantly surprised. I know he knows the difference between right and wrong. But he has never actually felt badly about a wrongful action. It was heartbreaking to see him be upset, but I was also happy to see his range of emotions expanding. I think remorse for one’s action is an important and hard concept to grasp, and I’m truly surprised to see this in my 16.5 month old.
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