It certainly is summer. Now that school is out I see more and more mothers out shopping with their children in tow. The children get bored, the mom loses her patience, add heat, humidity, stir well and you have the recipe for a summer showdown. We've all been there.
Last week I was picking up Birthday cards at the drugstore. In front of me was a frazzled looking Mom with her two children. The youngest was somewhat contained in a small shopping cart, and the other named Jeffrey appeared to be about 6. I knew his name was Jeffrey because drugstores aren't that large and I had watched as his mom chased and called after him through the entire store. What should have been a short stop at the drugstore had turned into a 20 minute fiasco. Obviously Jeffrey was under the impression that when his mother said stop, that meant go. And so it went until his mother had managed to corral him into the register line. Once there Jeffrey was a busy boy handling every piece of candy gum and mint within reach.
By this time Jeffrey's mother was so visibly upset she was trembling. "Jeffrey stop! Put that down....NOW! Jeffery noooooooo" And then it happened, the last straw so to speak. Jeffrey pulled down an entire box of candy bars onto the floor. His mother scooped them up and squared off to face Jeffrey. By this time she was hissing. " Don't you dare touch another single piece of candy". Inwardly I groaned. Jeffrey smirked and slowly, every so slowly, he reached out with one finger and proceeded to poke everything he could reach. The showdown was over before it ever really started. Hands down, Jeffrey won. The mother rolled her eyes and all I could hear was Jeffrey shrieking with laughter as they left.
Now I have to ask. Why did Jeffrey's mother level a threat with no intention of following through? From Jeffrey's behavior the answer is she never has followed through with any consistency. Jeffrey knew the odds were in his favor. Parents word to the wise here. Discipline early, discipline often and always, always follow through.
Questions or comments? Please feel free to "Ask Ms. Donna"
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2 comments:
You should be a full-time writer! Love the stories.
Thank you Debra. Folks this is my sister. She has to like me. But she is my first post and I am grateful someone is reading this.
Love you Debra
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