World War III erupts

Remember that face William Wallace makes as he's charging into battle? The primordial-I'm going to eat your eyes out-I run with spears-I chop heads in one swoop-I eat mammoths for breakfast raw-look? That was my five year old, Cris, when he woke up this morning.

Connor had had THE AUDACITY to rearrange the Legos. In case you are unaware, this is a crime equatable with sinking U-boats, bombing the harbor, and crossing into enemy territory-- combined. It is not an exaggeration to say World War III is on the brink of erupting in my living room. Catapult carts should always trump cars. Cris is literally jumping on Connor's head. There will be screaming, clawing, and gnashing of teeth. So, therefore, my pacifist self wants to retreat to a cave, write, and hope that if I throw newspapers, flowers and (organic) donuts they will be happily resolve the conflict, become enlightened, plant a garden, and have a feast. Funny how that parental strategy never seems to work out well...Here was a decent alternative.

Step 1: Cease fire
Remove warring children from the battleground.

Step 2: Acknowledge the transgressions and air the emotions.
You *felt* you were majorly wronged. You need to cry and complain. You also hurt others.

Step 3: Recognize ownership and equity
The Legos (kind of like the land and the water) actually belongs to all of us. Probably not fair for you to hoard all the legos and "allow" Connor to only have one small car (Cris was generously going to concede him one Lego dude too).

Step 4: Accept responsibility
You can be mad, but you can't be rageful. You can't hurt others.

Step 5: Begin Negotiations
Use words. Discuss the needs of others. Make a decision that will appease all.

Step 6: Re-draw boundary lines
One or two built Lego structures in the window can be off-limits for a few days.

Step 7: Make peace offering
Cris built Connor a car.

Step 8: Start the process over again...
Connor's not entirely on board. After agreeing that Cris can rebuild the structure his way, Connor is very sad.

These are the days when my morning is on par with that of UN peacekeeping levels of negotiations. (At least they probably first get to brew their coffee). However, as their mama always says "the good thing about legos" (unlike parcels of land, boats, planes, and bodies) "is that they can always be rebuilt"!