Mother of the Year Award (NOT) take 2

Ryan received an invitation from his scout leaders, Sunday evening, inviting him to dress like a character in his favorite book for his pack meeting on Wednesday. Monday evening Ryan had decided that he wanted to dress like Harry Potter. So Tuesday after school we took a trip to deseret industries to see if we could find a black robe. Taylor informed us upon entering the store that he wanted to go look at the toys. Colby volunteered to go with him while Ryan and I looked for bathrobes. After a few minutes of looking I heard a muffled announcement over the intercom..." Attention all customers, " the rest of the message sounded like the 'teacher' on the peanuts cartoon. Ryan and I found a black, shiny robe that he was happy with...but it was missing the belt... so we went to another part of the store to look through the belts. On our way I told Ryan I was going to check on Colby and Taylor in the toy isle. They weren't there so I went to check for them in the book section. A couple of times while I was wandering around I hear the muffled message again, but I wasn't concerned about what the 'blue light special' was for the day. Colby and Taylor weren't in the book section either so I found Ryan and told him I was going to the front of the store to look for them. As I approached the checkout area I heard the message again. "Attention all customers, if you have lost your child please go to register 1". I still wasn't alarmed by the message because I was sure that Colby and Taylor were together and that they weren't lost....that was until, Colby came up behind me and said "Mom, I can't find Taylor."
So I very calmly made my way to register 1. When I approached the register there was a line of customers waiting to be helped. So I walked to the opposite end in hopes of catching her attention and avoiding the line. But the cashier was flustered and was ignoring my "excuse me ma'am" So I just stepped to the end of the line. As I was waiting in line I heard the announcement over the intercom again. Then things got really interesting.

Lady at register 5, calling to lady at register 1, "Isn't that sad?"
Lady at register 1, "Really sad."
Lady at 5, " Some parent doesn't even know they've lost their child"
Lady at 1, " That poor kid"
customer checking out at 5 " Yeah, Those parents that just let their kids run wild through the store."
At this point, I was the front of the line and as Lady at 1 made eye contact with me, she must have sensed that I wasn't there to pay for the black robe I was holding and the smile on her face dropped as I said " I heard the announcement about the lost child and I believe he is mine. "
Lady at 5, " Did you hear us?"
Me " yes"
Lady at 5, " I am so sorry ."
Me " You know this little incident has taught me a very valuable lesson. We really shouldn't judge people. You don't know me... and you don't know anything about the situation... You were just making assumptions about me and what kind of parent you THINK I am. That's whats sad."
She apologized again as she picked up her phone to call for someone to escort me into the 'employee's only" door and into an office to where Taylor sat.

We finished our shopping and proceeded to check out 2, which was now open, to pay for our items. As I was paying the lady from register 1 turns around and pats me on the shoulder and says"Don't beat yourself up about it" to which all I could think to say was " Oh, I won't". She looked kind of puzzled as she mumbled " Oh,...Good some people would" and turned to help the next customer.
I'm sure my picture is now hanging in the D.I. With the words "Bad Mother" posted beneath it.

What's the Price for Honesty

On this particular occasion... I feel I got off pretty easy... it was only $7.99.

It all started innocently enough. It sounded like a great idea at the time. Go to this new store in Logan and check out their 4th of July clearance stuff. So I loaded up the boys and headed to Hobby Lobby. I was having a great time looking through the leftovers, when a cute white basket caught my eye. I reached for it to take a closer look and in all my excitement knocked this eagle off the shelf. I was just standing there dumbfounded and of course my first instinct was to just pick it up and set it back on the shelf...but I knew that wasn't good.( I know I really need to work on myself.... If I was truly a good person that wouldn't have been my first thought)... and then I look over and see six pairs of eyes on me... just watching in awe. I think part of them was relieve that they hadn't done it. And then I hear Colby" you break it, you buy it"...Now where in the world would he have heard that. I scoop up the eagle and, with the 'shopping moment' now ruined carry it to the check stand. Half of me was hoping the lady at the registrar would feel my plight and not make me pay for it....but alas.

lady : "oh, this got broken"

me : " Yeah, I accidentally knocked it off the shelf" (I couldn't even blame it on one of my kids)

lady: "Well, did you want it?"

me: "No, not really, but I broke it..."

So she rang it up and I paid for it.

I left completely disgusted with myself... If I had to break something couldn't it at least be something cute.

It now sits proudly in Ryan's room on his shelf.

I told my friend of my incident and she laughed and said..."That will probably be the thing they all fight over when you die."

Mother of the Year Award (NOT)

My friend posted on her blog this morning about what a 'bad mom' she is. So in the spirit of good company I thought now is the time to share my latest 'bad mom' story. This is just one example from the long (and still going) list I have accumulated over the years.
Ryan and Colby had a great summer with coach pitch baseball and tee-ball. When I got their schedules at the begining of the year I made sure to transfer them to the calendar that hangs by my phone so that I could keep better track of the times. Well, I tought I had done a good job in the transfer and we kept busy with games monday through thursday. We spent most of our evenngs at the ball field and it quickly became a routine in our summer schedule. Then Ryan's last game came.... We had gotten into this great routine of eating first if the game was at 7:30...and going to the game and THen eating if the game was at 6:30. So as had been the majority of the summer we enjoyed dinner then rode bikes to the ball field. As we rode up to the field Ryan said " look . Mom they already started." I look at the kids on the field (Ryan's team). But then I say another team off tto the side throwing the ball back and forth.. so I said" They're probably just warming up, Get your stuff and go over with your team." I parked my bike and proceeded to look around for a place to lay our blanket out when Ryan cam running back over to me crrying, mind you, and saying the game wasn't just starting but was just ending. Me, being the bright, intelligent person Iam said " Well, It was you turn to bring drinks lets at least go give those out." He just cried more and said 'I'm going home" So I went and gave the drinks out myself... rode home alone... feeling like dirt. As we rode by a neighbors house they called at to me" Well that was a short game" I was trying to think of something clever and commical to say, but all that came out was. "yeah"
When I got home Wade suggested I take Ryan and Cloby to see Kung Fu Panda... We drowned Ryan's sorrows and my guilt in a big tub of popcorn.
Mother of the Year... I think not.