Just when I think I'm getting my stuff together I go out and completely blunder. Jubilee returned from her trip to Seattle late last night. Rick had also been out of town so I was avoiding going to the grocery store. I don't know why I do that, it just makes things that much worse when I finally drag myself there. I try to go right after I drop kids off at school, when it is just me and the other Logos moms stocking up. I try to avoid peak college student times. (I'm sorry, but if you are shopping...shop. If you are lining up weekend plans, pull up a couch somewhere.)
But I digress. The big problem was that I ended up going at snack time. Not a big deal, but I forgot that snacks are VERY important to one particular member of my party. I just wanted to power through the store and get home ASAP. With that in mind I put Omega in the cart, had Nes hold on, and Jubilee was grabbing things and throwing them in the cart while I pushed. All was okay until I hit the bulk candy. I usually skip this aisle all together. Easter is on Sunday, so it had to happen. While I poured jelly beans into a plastic bag, Nes was snatching laughy taffy without me seeing him. He is not very sneaky, so I caught him before I got out of the produce section. I made him put them back and explained that he was stealing. His attitude at this point tanked. He started his low grade moan, and his pace dropped to half.
I knew we needed to get out soon, but Win-Co is not really a speedy place. I decided to ignore the moaning and finish shopping. I had explained to him that his attitude needed to improve or he would not be getting a blessing at the end of the job (i.e., donut). Well, we got to the donuts with no improvement. I got donuts for those who were not whining and off we went to check out. Let's just say we were getting plenty of looks by the time I pushed the loaded cart to the van. It always helps when the white Mom leaves the store with smiling white girl eating donut and crying black boy eating nothing. Nice.
I got into the van and started for home, with Nes in a full scale thrashing fit when he screamed out, "I'm hungry!" All of a sudden I could hear Karyn Purvis's southern drawl telling me to make sure these kids eat EVERY TWO HOURS. Way to go, Mom of the Year. I took my child, with a history of malnourishment, and drug him through the food super store only to give him nothing, but giving his two sisters donuts. Did I meet his needs? No. Was I loving my neighbor? No. Should I have been able to figure this out before I even left my house? Duh. How quickly I forget that my kids have needs that I need to meet, even when it is inconvenient. I need to remember to keep food stashed in my purse, but really this time it wasn't that food wasn't available, it was that I was a block head.
We got home, had a pudding snack, and made peace. Jubilee was visibly disturbed by the whole scene, and I probably still need to address that. I could have avoided this whole ugly scene so easily had I been thinking of someone other than myself. I am just so grateful that Nes is so forgiving.
But I digress. The big problem was that I ended up going at snack time. Not a big deal, but I forgot that snacks are VERY important to one particular member of my party. I just wanted to power through the store and get home ASAP. With that in mind I put Omega in the cart, had Nes hold on, and Jubilee was grabbing things and throwing them in the cart while I pushed. All was okay until I hit the bulk candy. I usually skip this aisle all together. Easter is on Sunday, so it had to happen. While I poured jelly beans into a plastic bag, Nes was snatching laughy taffy without me seeing him. He is not very sneaky, so I caught him before I got out of the produce section. I made him put them back and explained that he was stealing. His attitude at this point tanked. He started his low grade moan, and his pace dropped to half.
I knew we needed to get out soon, but Win-Co is not really a speedy place. I decided to ignore the moaning and finish shopping. I had explained to him that his attitude needed to improve or he would not be getting a blessing at the end of the job (i.e., donut). Well, we got to the donuts with no improvement. I got donuts for those who were not whining and off we went to check out. Let's just say we were getting plenty of looks by the time I pushed the loaded cart to the van. It always helps when the white Mom leaves the store with smiling white girl eating donut and crying black boy eating nothing. Nice.
I got into the van and started for home, with Nes in a full scale thrashing fit when he screamed out, "I'm hungry!" All of a sudden I could hear Karyn Purvis's southern drawl telling me to make sure these kids eat EVERY TWO HOURS. Way to go, Mom of the Year. I took my child, with a history of malnourishment, and drug him through the food super store only to give him nothing, but giving his two sisters donuts. Did I meet his needs? No. Was I loving my neighbor? No. Should I have been able to figure this out before I even left my house? Duh. How quickly I forget that my kids have needs that I need to meet, even when it is inconvenient. I need to remember to keep food stashed in my purse, but really this time it wasn't that food wasn't available, it was that I was a block head.
We got home, had a pudding snack, and made peace. Jubilee was visibly disturbed by the whole scene, and I probably still need to address that. I could have avoided this whole ugly scene so easily had I been thinking of someone other than myself. I am just so grateful that Nes is so forgiving.
2 comments:
Oh Signe, you just had me rolling on the floor. I can just picture this whole scene. Love Nes' hairband and I can't believe he is losing his bottom teeth already. Give him a kiss from me.
Oh and I am still laughing I forgot to add that even more so I think our sons are related because my Biruk still is a little thief so I always check his pockets before I leave the store.
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