I heard an interesting story last week. One I had mostly forgotten.
It came from both Biter and Victim, and I have permission to use
the names of the guilty parties.

When Eden was four and Suzanne was eight, Suzanne (probably
the best big sister anyone could want) decided to play "dead," and
scare her younger sister.

"I tried to get her to move," Eden said, "but she wouldn't. I tried everything.
I was getting scared, so, I figured if I bit her and she didn't move, she was really dead."

Well, Eden bit, and Suzanne moved. She moved fast! And mostly what I remember
from the incident, is seeing the small, perfectly shaped teeth marks on Suzanne's arm.

"Did you get in trouble?" I asked Eden (This disproves the commonly held theory
that moms remember EVERYTHING.)
"I don't think so," said Eden. "I think I explained, and it was okay." Then she went
on to say, "I was really little, Mom, but I was using logic. I thought it through. The
whole biting-thing made sense to me. And it worked. Suzanne moved."
Yes. Indeed.

I don't remember what I said. Both Suzanne and I are vague on the details. The Biter
seems to remember more clearly. Probably because biting wasn't in her repertoire.
What I wish I had said to the Biter was something like..."You could have called me.
Or maybe you could have sprinkled water on her face or tickled her feet."
To the Bittee? Maybe an object lesson in not scaring her favorite little sister. Though
I suppose the real "object lesson" was embossed on Suzanne's arm for a few days.

The part I found interesting was Eden's use of logic and how important the process was
to her. There was a problem. She tried different solutions. Nothing worked until Eden
took matters into her own hands... uh, mouth.

And over two decades later as Eden begins teaching school again, she is determined to
remember how she felt. She is determined to remember that even the very young use logic,
and that it is important for a parent or teacher to draw out what is in the mind of a child.
To understand the thinking behind the act.

That early logic is probably one of the little seed gems children store away, to be considered,
to be expanded and refined, and finally to be used again with compassion.

Sisters learn a lot from each other.