We took our children to this great restaurant called Moe's for dinner last week. As I get out of the car with the kids (the Hubby would join us later) we see a young couple, maybe very late teens or very early twenties, heading into the restaurant too. Right before they reach the door, the girl leans over and picks up what looks like wadded up paper from the ground. Upon closer examination, however, she realizes it is a wad of money. She exclaims to her boyfriend, "Hey, look what I just found!"
I'm standing there, with my kids, hoping that this couple is going to do the right thing and return the money. But they don't. In fact, the boyfriend snatches it out of the girl's hand and says, "Give me that! How much is it?" and then shoves it with a greedy fist into his pocket. Hannah's mouth is hanging open. Chris looks up at me and says, "Mom, that money didn't belong to them. Why are they keeping it?" Soren wishes out loud that he could find some money. Me - I'm just bugged and really disappointed at how lame people can be. I don't say anything to the couple - but I do say something to my kids about making honest choices. That was a sour little start to my holiday feelings!
Here's the other side of the coin, though. I was with Soren in Old Navy this week, buying something for my little chicadee. While I browsed for said item, Soren stood in amazement in front of a gigantic gumball machine filled with large bouncy balls. Then our conversation went something like this:
S: Mama, I want a bouncy ball.
M: Did you bring your money?
S: No. Can you buy me one?
M: Not today.
S: But I really want one. Why not?
M: Because we already have five million bouncy balls at our house.
S: Mama, I need a bouncy ball like these. We don't have one like these.
M: Soren, I am NOT buying you a bouncy ball today!
S: Tear, tear, whimper, whimper.
This little dialogue was observed by a mommy and her little girl in a stroller who were indeed buying one of the bouncy balls. I moved on, browsed a little, and then proceeded to check out at the register. As I was paying, I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned around to find the mom who'd bought her daughter a ball. She said, "My daughter really wanted your son to have a bouncy ball." And then she handed me the perfect blue marbled bouncy ball. Soren looked up at her and grinned. His little hand could barely hold the ball it was so big. He whispered thanks and I gushed about what a very Christmassy thing that was to do. It made Soren's day and almost erased the Moe's experience out of my head. People can be really great when they want to!
I'm standing there, with my kids, hoping that this couple is going to do the right thing and return the money. But they don't. In fact, the boyfriend snatches it out of the girl's hand and says, "Give me that! How much is it?" and then shoves it with a greedy fist into his pocket. Hannah's mouth is hanging open. Chris looks up at me and says, "Mom, that money didn't belong to them. Why are they keeping it?" Soren wishes out loud that he could find some money. Me - I'm just bugged and really disappointed at how lame people can be. I don't say anything to the couple - but I do say something to my kids about making honest choices. That was a sour little start to my holiday feelings!
Here's the other side of the coin, though. I was with Soren in Old Navy this week, buying something for my little chicadee. While I browsed for said item, Soren stood in amazement in front of a gigantic gumball machine filled with large bouncy balls. Then our conversation went something like this:
S: Mama, I want a bouncy ball.
M: Did you bring your money?
S: No. Can you buy me one?
M: Not today.
S: But I really want one. Why not?
M: Because we already have five million bouncy balls at our house.
S: Mama, I need a bouncy ball like these. We don't have one like these.
M: Soren, I am NOT buying you a bouncy ball today!
S: Tear, tear, whimper, whimper.
This little dialogue was observed by a mommy and her little girl in a stroller who were indeed buying one of the bouncy balls. I moved on, browsed a little, and then proceeded to check out at the register. As I was paying, I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned around to find the mom who'd bought her daughter a ball. She said, "My daughter really wanted your son to have a bouncy ball." And then she handed me the perfect blue marbled bouncy ball. Soren looked up at her and grinned. His little hand could barely hold the ball it was so big. He whispered thanks and I gushed about what a very Christmassy thing that was to do. It made Soren's day and almost erased the Moe's experience out of my head. People can be really great when they want to!
1 comment:
The bouncy ball part made me cry
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