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Monday, August 9, 2010

All Good Stories Begin With What?

This morning we were at Wal Mart... (LOL!)

There was a lady that I couldn't help but notice as she was grocery shopping alongside me. She had five children and they were being very loud. Very loud. They were behaving for the most part, but they were still being very loud. So loud, as a matter of fact, that several people went to the deli to see what kind of celebration was taking place. There was no celebration at all. It was just five children singing and whatnot. This type of thing used to bother me, but now that I am a mother I can appreciate joyful noises coming from a child, or in this case, several children.

Hana and I finished our shopping and headed to the checkout where she quickly noticed a set of fake keys that she felt she absolutely positively must have. Most of the time I say no, but there's been a few occasions recently that I have found my car with a popped trunk and a drained battery. Why? Because a little certain someone gets my keys out of their numerous hiding places and pushes the buttons on them, one being a trunk-popping button. The keys somehow make it back on the counter where I think I must have left them and I am none the wiser. So, needless to say, I thought this $2 set of (Tinkerbell) keys might be a wise purchase. Maybe she'll stay away from mine and enjoy her own.

Right after I made this decision, the lady with all the children got in line behind me and I heard her tell her three oldest, "You can either stay and help or go play. It doesn't matter to me." I thought that was interesting. Where were they going to go play? Maybe up at the entrance? Maybe they have one of those ride-on things? But the oldest one was maybe 7 or 8 years old and I just couldn't imagine letting my kids go like that, but I'm probably what's considered a "hover mom," who lives in constant fear of someone abducting my child, so oh, well. They're her kids, not mine.

I was busy unloading my groceries onto the counter so the cashier could ring them up and Hana exclaimed, "I want a phone, Momma! I want a phone like he has!" She was pointing at one of the lady's sons. Her kids weren't at the entrance to the store, they were right there in the checkout lane playing with the little toys there, some of which were keys like I was about to purchase for Hana, The one boy closest to us was playing with a Tinkerbell fake cell phone. I replied to Hana, "You have phones at home. Plus, we're getting you those keys, remember?" The lady quickly turned to me and righteously proclaimed, "Oh, I don't actually purchase these things for my kids. They're allowed to play with them while we're at the store and that's it. They know I won't buy them these nonsense toys" I felt judged. I thought of Hana's ridiculously full playroom and wanted to immediately put the Tinkerbell keys back on the shelf, but I refrained.

The cashier came upon the keys I was purchasing, scanned them and handed them to Hana while saying, "Wow! These are really cool keys! Do they go to your car?" I saw Hana's face light up as she grabbed the keys from the nice cashier and pictured her playing with them rather than mine (and no more drained car batteries!), so I was instantly at ease. I realize I buy Hana too much stuff and I'm really trying to be better about it. It's just so hard! I'm so frugal in so many other ways, heck, I'm even frugal about the stuff I do buy for her! But I can sure convince myself she needs things that she truly does not need at all!

Anyhow, I stood there and watched the lady unload her groceries onto the counter and saw one junk food item after another. I thought about the food I was purchasing and realized that food-wise, our big splurge for the day was a container of Country Time strawberry lemonade I plan to make for Hana. She has never had it, but LOVES all the flavored water and Crystal Light I (nowadays try not to) drink and especially don't like for her to drink because they are full of harmful artificial sweeteners. I immediately felt much better about myself. Obviously this lady and I have different priorities. I would rather spend my money on healthy, nutritious food and cheap "nonsense toys" than lots junk food and no toys. She can judge me all she wants! She has her ways of making her children happy, and I have mine. ;-)

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

You do not ever need to doubt what you do for Hana. You have to be the best mother that I have been around in a very long time. Kudo's to you and your way, keep on doing it.

Ernie

Happy Mommy said...

Thanks! ;-)

Anonymous said...

If I have to say this one more time to you I will...I am so blessed and thankful to know that you are the mother of my niece and the children you and Joe plan on having in the future. Never let someone ever make you question your abilities to be a great mother..YOU are a GREAT MOM, honestly...

Anonymous said...

YOU are not only the best daughter, but the very best mommy ever! Hana is very fortunate to have a mommy like YOU!
Moew, mom

Happy Mommy said...

Thanks for all the sweet comments. As mothers I don't think we can ever get enough praise. It's easy to doubt ourselves, especially in the company of such righteous people! LOL I still don't know why you meowed at me though, mom...

Purrr...