A Healer’s Geste

Reverse Progression of Events

How it happens:

Mom: Jaeger, why were you boys fighting?
Jaeger: Because I hit Hans.
Mom: Why did you hit Hans?
Jaeger: Because I did not want him to cry and fuss.
Hans: Well…
Mom: I didn’t ask you, Hans. Jaeger, why was he fussing?
Jaeger: Because I knocked over his house.
Mom: Why did you knock over his house?
Jaeger: Because I didn’t want to play with him anymore.
Mom: Why didn’t you want to play with him anymore?
Jaeger: Because he took my guy.
Hans: Well! [he receives a look]
Mom: Jaeger, why did he take your guy?
Jaeger: I don’t know, he just did!
Mom: Hans, why did you take his guy?
Hans: Because he just put him on the house when it wasn’t time to put him there. I told him not to, but he still did!
Mom: That is being bossy and telling your brother what to do instead of playing with him and working things out. Taking his guy was rude. Jaeger, hitting other people and ruining other people’s things is not the right answer. What should you have done instead?
Jaeger: [sulkily] Talked.

How it ends: They did not get to go back downstairs to play, but had to play quietly and separately in the living room where I could observe and instruct until lunch, which was only 30 minutes hence.