I watched a scene play out at a family gathering last summer. Two of my wife's nieces children were present, a 2yo girl and 3yo boy. When it was time for the boy's family to depart, he wanted a hug and kiss that his cousin didn't want to give him. He pulled on her, but she was adamant, and the adults separated them. The boy made a show of loudly crying; I could see he actually shed no tears, but he was obviously hoping his parents would give in to his distress and force his cousin to give him what he wanted.

I was glad the little girl got the support she needed, and that the matter wasn't blown up into anything beyond a brief squabble between young children. But I was disturbed that the boy was acting so entitled, and painfully aware of how frequently such disputes are resolved in the other way.