Drama In Target: Mom vs. Wesley

This morning I had a dentist appt. I had to take the boys with me. So, I gave them their gameboys and that worked! They sat like little angels while I was under the LAUGHING GAS (no kidding, bubble gum scented gas...good stuff). I was proud as a peacock walking out of there. All the assistants were saying..."Oh, what great little boys you have". "I didn't even know they were with you, they were so quiet". On and on the compliments went and I was loving it.

Back out at the car, I told the boys..."Mommy is so proud of you, I'm gonna take you to Target to get you both a treat!" They were thrilled.

So, we venture in to search for that very special prize. Looking around at the $1.00 bins, of course. Will picked a slinky. Wesley picked a wind up yellow chick. I should have let things be. They were happy. Content with their prize, but NO, I had to take it a step further.

me - "Why don't we go over to the candy (jelly belly section) and you can each pick 5 pieces of candy to put in your OWN bag!"

boys - again, cheering

me - "Wesley, what 5 pieces of candy do you want?"

Wesley - "I want raspberries". (you know the little black and red gummies with beads on them)

me - "okay, let's count them....1, 2, 3, 4, 5! Yaaaay!"

Wesley - "NOOOOOOOOO! I want ALL OF THEM!" (screaming and starting to cry)

me - "Wesley, (trying to sound sweet because people are watching), remember mommy said, we could get 5, so let's have a happy heart about these okay sweetie?"

At this point I'm going to stop the dialogue because, well, there wasn't any more. Will was happily choosing his 5 pieces...(2 swedish fish, 1 sour gummy worm, 1 regular gummy worm and a gummy bear). Wesley is screaming so loud, I can't hear myself think. His face was blood red and he was MAD. I managed to get him to the check out. He was in FULL BLOWN tantrum mode. It was time to put our things on the belt to be scanned.

I handed the raspberries and the yellow chick to the check out guy and said, "We won't be getting these today." Those words, turned his world UPSIDE DOWN. Wesley just looked at me screaming and I started to get scared of him. ME - I'm the MOM! Afraid of my 3 year old. There was kicking and crying, wailing around on the floor...the whole bit. I had the attention of the photo lab guy, the customer service desk, the Target deli, every other person in the store.

I noticed something. They were all staring at ME.

"What is she gonna DO about THAT?" they wondered.

me - "Dear God, please make me invisible, please make me invisible..."

Call it nerves or the laughing gas, call it whatever you want, but I just started LAUGHING. Out loud. With everyone watching me. Including my tantrum throwing son. And my 6 year old. I kept thinking to myself. "Pull it together! Stop laughing. Get control of yourself, you're the MOM!" None of this worked, but only made me laugh harder. I was mad that I was laughing because I didn't want Wesley to think he was off the hook by ANY MEANS. I was desperately trying to sound firm..."You are in trouble when we get home mister." But he wasn't buying it. Will then looks up at me and says...."mom, I think you did the right thing by not buying him treats. This is embarrassing." And Will's face was all red. He was mortified too. Only he wasn't hysterical like I was.

Kicking and screaming the whole way, I managed to get Wesley in the car. More stares in the parking lot of course.

We pulled in the driveway and I told Wesley to go STRAIGHT to the naughty corner. I made their lunch. Pulled myself together and was able to discipline him out of love.

He is napping now. Night and day difference. He looks like a little angel.

If any gals from my dentist office are reading this, thank you for the compliments this morning. I'm gonna choose to remember THAT moment of the day instead of the latter.

I wonder...is it safe to give laughing gas to kids??? :)

And just so you know, I love my little Wesley. He's a spit fire sometimes, but I love him to PIECES.

 In Genesis 17:17, it says,  "Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old?" 

I think I can relate to his nervous laughter. That seems to be my mode of coping when I'm in the midst of strife. Laughter really is the best medicine. How long has it been since you've laughed OUT LOUD?  (Instead of just typing it..aka LOL! :) Whatever it takes, get with a funny friend, or rent a funny movie. Laughter is good for your soul. 

Happy Laughing,