Saturday, August 7, 2010

I know I've said it before...

But! Parenting is not for the faint of heart.

Today's Lesson: Buyer's Remorse

Yesterday I took a trip to Wally World, with 3 kids in tow, to get supplies for my kids' camping trip with Grandma and Grandpa. Leia was armed with $8 birthday money. Xavier had $3 he was willing to part with (he's saving up for a DS game). And Gaius had $5 or less, that I was willing to part with. We made our selections (Leia playing her normal game of indecision that takes FOREVER) then go to pay. Upon reaching the register we find A. candy, B. Lip gloss, C. other odds and ends that the store puts there to taunt children. So, WHAM!!! In a split second decision Gaius decides he wants a candy bar instead of a Winnie the Pooh toy (that he was "going to love forever and ever") he's been carrying around the whole store. And Leia decides she wants the lip gloss rather than this little dog we spent 20 minutes deciding on. We leave the toys and pick up the goodies, pay, and instantly burst into tears. So I head out to the car with 2 sobbing children and leave.

Now I'm still at a loss about what should have been done in this situation. I feel really bad that they were so upset. But, they are just toys that they will probably forget about by next week. I expected the tears from Gaius but was surprised by Leia's. My first reaction is to just go back and get them the toys and save them for a gift "from" the baby. However, that would completely defeat the lesson. Plus, I don't want to train them that as long as you cry you get your way. *sigh* I'm thinking the lesson might be worth more than the toys and I should stick with my first gut feeling. After all not going with our gut is what got us into this mess.
I guess we all learned a lesson here!


I really wish parenting wasn't so heart wrenching sometimes.

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