Lesson of the Day...

Here is the gratitude I gained last night as I was with Bowen, the little man of our home, at the store:

Bowen wanted a treat as we were checking out at the grocery store. I had already paid for the groceries when he notified me of his request. Therefore, the answer was a sharp, "no, we have plenty of sweets at home." He asked a little more loudly a second time, still "no." As we were following the bagger out to the car with the groceries (yes, some stores still help you out to your car with a cart of groceries), Bowen decided that he wanted a treat, regardless of his mother's negative response. So, he began to scream and demand and I think there was even a foot stomping involved. WOW, it had been along time since Bowen had thrown a real tantrum. Not since his two and three year old days had I seen such behavior. I was a little shocked, embarrassed, and anger came into play as well. At this point, a lady was entering the store and saw our loud exhibition as we were exiting. She decided to voice her feelings regarding our public display, "you should not spoil your children and you should learn to be a better mother to avoid this kind of behavior." Another, WOW! I am not sure who was displaying the worst behavior. With this voiced opinion, I thought quickly and then immediately turned toward the vending machines holding gumballs, fumbled through my purse for a quarter and Bowen was victorious as he threw the shiny, red gumball into his mouth. This reaction was only because I wanted to display some bad behavior too and spite the very opinionated, "mother of the year!" So, nonetheless, Bowen's tantrum was rewarded, I felt justice and the lady was still uptight.

From this loud exhibition, I gained a lesson in gratitude. I'm grateful my children get their pants dirty, pull out their hair bows after I spent hours to gain perfection, pick their noses, burp without saying "excuse me," pass gas on occasion, throw temper tantrums, and sometimes quarrel in public. This keeps me from being too arrogant, proper or judgmental of other people's children.

I'm grateful my children occasionally miss the bus at the precise moment I've stepped out of the shower, or text me to let me know that their near starving self forgot their lunch or that they left their research paper, that is due today, on the counter at the precise moment I am stepping into a business meeting. Experiences like jumping into the car wearing whatever was handy and racing to school or excusing myself from a meeting to take the forgotten items to a child, have a tendency to loosen rigid plans into something better known as spontaneity.

I'm also grateful my children sometimes call me names like "crazy" because sometimes I am a little "crazy," and it helps keep a person humble to be told they're "crazy" especially when they thought their behavior was semi-normal.

Lastly, I'm grateful for the gift of children in my life! What a lesson I learned from a brief moment in the grocery store!