Two Year Old Learns Philosophy

M. (aged 2) is in the 'it's mine!' phase. M's babysitter says that, whenever M enters the neighborhood park, M announces, "Mine park!" And whenever M enters the local public library, M makes a wide gesture and proclaims, "Mine books!"

M's babysitter jokes that M thinks the entire world is their personal property. So I told her that, when M says "It's mine!", she should respond, "And you - you were created to serve G-d."

This is based on an old story. A great Rabbi, (either Reb Simcha Bunim of Peshischa or the Alter of Slabodka, or both, Google for the varied opinions), told students to keep two notes in their pockets at all times.

On one, they should write, "The world was created for me". (Sanhedrin 37a/M.) And on the other one, they should write, "But I am dust and ashes". (Bereishis 18:27).

If you feel worthless, remember that G-d created the entire world for you, and you have a special role no one else can fill. And if you feel arrogant, remember that man comes from dust and returns to dust, in death.

Telling M, "And you are dust and ashes" would be a little much for a 2 year old. M might misunderstand a complex concept like that. So I told M's babysitter to tell M that M was created as part of G-d's plan instead. This should help M grow out of this stage faster.