Bad Guys

While eating lunch today the Dictator and I were talking about our upcoming Disney trip next week.
In preparation we were talking about Disney movies and the characters in each one. We somehow got on the subject of bad guys and started naming all the bad guys we know. I could tell the wheels in the Dictators mind were turning, and soon she asked me "Momma, why are they bad guys? Why aren't they nice?" What a tough question!
I tried to give her an honest answer, without being too involved or scary- "Some people are bad guys because they are sad. They might be sad because they don't like what they look like, or maybe they really want something and can't have it and it makes them angry and mean. Maybe they don't have any friends. Maybe something scary or bad happened to them and it made them angry and want to make others scared. Lots of bad guys are just sad people, or lonely people."
My beautiful little Dictator was really thinking all of this through and then told me "Momma, sometimes I'm a bad guy. I am mean. I don't want to be a bad guy, but sometimes I just am." I told her "Sometimes we are all bad guys. Sometimes we say and do things that are mean and hurtful to other people. Sometimes we hurt other people and make them sad. The important thing is that we say we are sorry and do our very very best to never be a bad guy again. Being a good citizen, a good person, and a good friend is much better than being a bad guy."
After that the conversation went back to seeing Mickey Mouse, where we were going to eat, and what crappy souvenirs I would be blowing our retirement fund on.

Later though, while getting ready to leave, the Dictator came running down the hall and into her room.
She gave me the biggest hug and told me "Momma, next time I see a bad guy I'm going to tell them that It's okay bad guy, don't be sad. I will be your friend."

Bless her little toddler heart. I think I will try to follow her example and do the same. :)