Watching the twins grow up together gives a good insight to raw human instinct, especially regarding behavior towards others.
One of the first words in their vocabulary is "mine". The only property right they acknowledge is possession, and if the other one has it they want it.
James hasn’t consciously used his physical advantage yet, but that is the effect of his grab and run tactics.
This confirms that children learn self interest before they learn to share. Perhaps it’s a survival instinct.
It’s a timely reminder though that we must teach positive social values. They may be absorbed through environment, but they aren’t the natural inclination.
That said, we’ve already observed them giving affection and showing care. Hopefully we’re on the right track as parents.
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Your post remined me of Halloween one year. The older boys were probably 5 and 4, and we’d done some trick-or-treating.
The older boy had a sharing problem so his mother and I were surprised when, at the end of the night, he dumped out is bag and gave his brother, his mother, and me each a Snickers bar.
In the years that have passed he’s had bouts of sharing mixed with bouts of ‘mine.’
The middle child will give you anything he has almost any time you ask.