It was an accident

To a three year old, everything is an accident. Obvious things, like dropping your lunch, are an accident. But things like writing on the wall, taking your brother's toy, or eating a cookie behind the living room chair - those are accidents too. Because if it's an accident, you've done nothing wrong and therefore, you cannot be punished. At least I think this is what is going through the head of the afore mentioned three year old. Sometimes I'll find him with chocolate smeared on his face and a bag of chocolate chips on the counter. Then he gives me this look, similar to the one in the picture, but more pronounced, more innocent, and says "it was an accident!" I think to him it actually was an accident - an accident that he got caught. Someday maybe he'll learn the true meaning of the word, but for now, we'll be having lots of accidents.