Little Papa

My name is Lucas, but momma calls me Little Papa. I'm six years old, but momma says I'm six going on sixteen.

I have two brothers Aiden and Rowyn. I'm the oldest! Aiden is four years old and Rowyn is two years old. Aiden likes to play with cars. Rowyn likes to eat the cars.

Sometimes I have to take a toy away from my baby brother and tell him, "NO! You could choke on that Rowyn!"

He cries.

Then I hear momma.

“Lucas? Why is your brother crying?”

“But momma, he was chewing on a toy car! I had to take it away from him.”

“You are right; Rowyn should not have put the toy car in his mouth. Thank you, Little Papa, for being a good big brother.”

My brother Aiden likes to race our toy cars around the house (which is better than eating them), but he does not like to put them away.

I don’t think it's fair that I have to put all the toys away by myself. This always happens! I tell Aiden he has to pick up the toys, too. If he doesn’t help, I take a toy away. Maybe two.

He cries.

Then I hear momma.

“Lucas? Why is your brother crying? Shouldn’t you both be picking up toys?”

“But momma, he was playing when he should have been helping! So I took a toy away from him.”

“You're right; he should have been helping instead of playing. But next time, Little Papa, let me know if he's not helping. Do not take a toy away from him.”

“Sorry, momma, I’ll try to remember to tell you first.”

One of my favorite things to do is play video games! If I'm good I get five extra minutes to play Space Marines! The best game ever!

But I have to share with my brother Aiden. He doesn’t know how to play very well. I try to help him by showing him what to do. He doesn’t listen to me when I say, “Aiden you’re doing it wrong! Aiden I know how to play it! Aiden give it to me!”

He cries.

Then I hear momma.

“Lucas what's going on in here? Are you sharing the game with your brother?”

“But momma, I'm trying to help him play Space Marines. He doesn’t know how.”

“Playing the game for him is not helping him learn how to do it himself. Let him play unless he asks for your help. Did he ask for help?”

“No, momma, he didn't ask for help.”

“Then wait until he asks, Little Papa.”

“Okay…”

My brother Aiden likes to whine about everything! Momma said we could watch a cartoon, but he wanted a movie.

Daddy said we could have ice cream for dessert if we ate all our peas; he refused to eat his peas.

Momma set out his monkey pajamas, but he wanted his car pajamas instead.

I told him,” Don’t be such a Mr. Whiny Pants Aiden! Whining doesn't get you what you want.”

He cried.

Then I hear momma.

“Lucas what did you say to your brother? He's really upset.”

“But momma, he was being picky, picky, picky! So I told him whining doesn’t get him what he wants.”

“That’s true, Little Papa. Whining does not get you what you want, but I hope you take your own advice. Remember to set a good example for your brothers.”

“Yes, momma, I’ll try.”

Right before bed, I had to take a marker away from my baby brother Rowyn.

But he had already marked on the living room wall, kitchen table, and his belly.

I think momma was happy I helped, because she said, “Thank you, Little

Papa.

”