The next day Benjamin thought he struck gold when he saw Cinnamon Toast Crunch in the cupboard and poured it into his bowl. Hope howled.

 

"MOOOOM! Ben took my cereal!!!"

 

"Did you by any chance have some of his potato chips?" I inquired. She glared at me. No comment.

 

One time I took my adorable four year old to a mother's chat. For the first few minutes he played contentedly with the fresh selection of toys. But as more kids arrived to divide the stash he started to feel possessive.  He scooped everything into a pile and laid down on it. I was mortified. 

 

It astonishes me how quickly we shift from gratitude to entitlement. The puzzling part is that entitlement is inversely proportional to joy. My physical experience of being deserving is like a boa constricting his prey. I shrivel to guard my assets. Gratitude on the other hand is expansive. My arms fly open and welcome others to share.