Shhh.. don’t tell the big kids

May 9, 2007 | By Kristen | In Chaos of Life

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It’s finally beautiful spring here in Massachusetts and of course now I feel guilty for making the youngest run errands with me while the other two are in school. Yes, things need to get done but I do remember spending more time at playgroups, mommy and me classes and the playground with the older two.

Now, it seems that once they get on the bus it’s a “quick Dylie get your shoes on we got to go”. It resonates when on a day I don’t have anything specific planned our conversation will go like this…. “so, what should we do today?” and his little face scrunches with eyes rolled to the sky and finger to the chin and says “Go Get MILK!”. Yup that sums it up doesn’t it?

Well, this week we did need to make a grocery store run and a few other stops so I thought it would be nice to stop at Friendlys for a little one on one lunch. He is such an easy going kid that he sits and eats and we chat then of course he gets ice cream. The whole time I’m thinking to myself that if this gets out to the older two I’ll be hung out to dry with the immediate “why not us and can we go back now?”. On our way out the waitress kindly gave him a balloon and he was so proud. Now of course, I thought that’s it, I’m toast. However, after several reminders to hold on tight, and of course refusing any help like any normal two year old we exited to the parking lot. I’m sure you can see this coming, but yes, the balloon took flight. Poor little guy looked at me with the pouty lower lip and showed me he was still holding the string- so much for the string being tight enough on the balloon!

We turned around and entered the resteraunt again and explained what happened and Dylan handed over the string. Our second attempt to reach the car was successful. Only to reach the grocery store and there was no way he was leaving it in the car, so in it came with us. The host at the resteraunt had tied the new balloon to his wrist and he was proud when people made comments in the store about his balloon. That is until we headed to the check out, he passed a display of crackers and a box fell to the ground. A quick little “ok mommy I get it” and before I could open my mouth he bent over to pick up the box and yup, let go of the string. I don’t know how it came un-tied except the thought that the host didn’t do a great tying job but up to the ceiling went his balloon. And of course, that was it, no way to reach that so I carried my sad little boy to the check out to conclude our journey.

While I was worried about the balloon coming home and bringing on chaos of the two big kids being left out, I felt even more awful how disappointed the little one was. I’m normally a hard luck sort of mom not afraid to throw out a “I told you so” but it’s also a good mommy lesson to remember thats what is special about children- their ability to appreciate a simple pleasure -they aren’t looking at the cause/effect lesson or the hundred other balloons they will have in a life time just the fact that the 24 cent balloon made them happy.

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