Fair Trade???

First of all, let me just tell you I am doing the Happy Dance right now.

I went

with all three kids

to Super Walmart

and made it home

with all three kids.

No one lost their life

or a limb

or even got a special date with a wooden spoon.

It was like something out of an episode of the Walton's or Brady Bunch or something.

The trip was productive.

They were

polite,

obedient,

quiet,

helpful,

kind,

calm.

I was...

relieved.

They got a reward for such Boy/Girl Scout behavior.

When they get money for birthdays, Christmas, Easter, and all the other little holidays, I keep up with it for them. And then I choose when a good time to spend that money would be.

I chose today.

*Now, this is where I should tell you they knew ahead of time they would get to spend (their own) money. And this is where I should tell you that the ground rules for being able to spend (their own) money were clearly laid out on the ride to super Walmart. This information should in no way detract from their glowing report. They were outstanding, no matter the reward promised for such behavior. If I can say that after a trip to Super Walmart with three kids, you know they were good!

There were three rules:

1. You may get ONE treat (as in cookies, brownies, Zingers) You may NOT ask for anything other than your ONE treat. Asking for anything else results in immediate denial of (your) money spending privileges.

2. You MUST obey my words. Do not touch everything you see. Do not sit on the shelves or paper goods. Do not touch your brother/sister. Do not fuss. Do not argue. Do not debate. Do not ask for anything other than your ONE treat. Doing any of these things forfeits your right to spend (your) money.

3. Do NOT ask for anything other than your ONE treat.

Following these three rules is how I left Super Walmart with my sanity AND all three kids.

The concept of rule #(1,2, and) 3 didn't quite register for Hgirl.

Zman picked a game and Hgirl picked a baby doll.

Up to the check out we went and there, on the bottom shelf was Hgirl's weakness.

A sucker.

She asked for the sucker.

I reminded her of our deal.

She asked again.

I told her sternly that asking again would result in the loss of her baby doll.

She begged.

Fully expecting tears and a fit, but a big lesson learned, I told her to put the baby doll up.

(At this point, Zman turns to me and says for her, "Please Momma, can't she have just one more chance?" Is he not the sweetest thing ever???)

She put the doll up. Just like that.

"Now can I have my sucker?"

"Um, okay???"

A perfectly teachable moment destroyed by a little girl's love of a sucker!

A fair trade?

Hmmmm.........