But I'm not mad, Mamma...

This from my son, as he got in the car after karate tonight.  I had gone out before the class was dismissed to warm up the car, I pulled up to the front door and my oldest daughter and my son piled into the car.  As she buckled her seat, my eldest proudly told me she had earned another tip on her belt...then said in a whisper "but Jonah didn't."

From the back, I heard a resigned voice say "But I'm not mad Mamma.  I'll keep working hard, I'll get it soon."  Hearing the self control in his voice and his positive attitude was the best thing in my day.  Disappointments like this, often lead him to an extreme of tears and sadness.  A potentially negative  fixation such as this - focused on his "failure to get that tip"  could go on for days.  However,  I  see already, this is becoming what I like to think of as a postive fixation...something to strive for, master and achieve.

I think I'll be seeing a new tip on his belt before too long.