I take it back

There was a moment not long ago, yesterday in fact when I thought maybe my kids were a tad bit spoiled. (Of course if someone else were to point that out? "Them's fighting words!") It may have something to do with the fact that as soon as I mentioned I needed to go to the store to grab a few essentials, my 7 yr. old son was all "Mommy I want a toy!".

Me- "Do you think you deserve a toy?" (Recalling earlier today he'd gotten in trouble at school, again. He and his teacher disagree on the value of schoolwork vs play time.)

Him- "Yes" (with a smile)

Me- "I don't think so. You got in trouble." (with my usual raised eyebrow")

Him- "But, I still have two dollars I can buy my own, remember?" (way to break out the negotiating skills kiddo, too bad you spent that last week.)

Me-"You don't have two dollars, you played video games at Walmart, remember?" (and of course the usual pout ensued)

So off to the store we went, I grabbed my things quickly. As we rounded the corner headed to the checkout, we were passing the toy aisle. I glanced over at my son who was longingly gazing at the toys (I felt a twinge of guilt, but held my ground). Then I noticed a sweet little boy with curls atop his head. He reminded me of my youngest before his Nanny took him to the barber and chopped them off. (I was upset I don't care if he looked girly, he was my little cherub, dammit)

I smiled at him, and thought it was sweet how he was tugging on his Mommy's shirt, politely asking for a toy (he looked to have been about 3 or 4) That was until........

She said "No.", and the demon in him came out before my very eyes. He kicked her in the shin, and ran up and down the aisle screaming "Toy! TOY! TOY!!!" I was horrified. For her. For mothers everywhere.

I recalled the conversation in the car where my son said "Please Mommy, can I have a toy?" about 15 times on the way to the store.

That's when I turned to my son and said...."about that toy...."

It never fails

Every time I'm in the car with the boys, they manage to find something to argue over. Whether someone looked at someone the wrong way, someone is singing too loud, someone took someone's superman toy, really whatever the reason. It is Never Ever quiet in a vehicle with my rugrats. So, I do what any other mom would do who's praying for silence, so that the heart-pounding migraine will subdue. I randomly start talking or singing in cartoon character voices, or popping off with an unpolished british, sometimes australian accent. I've tried my hand at a latino accent, but apparently I haven't eaten enough spicy foods to pull that one off. I do occasionally speak spanish every now and then. I really don't know why I do this, but I do. Which I think is why my then 8 yr. old told my bf at that time I was Mexican. And, every time I think of the conversation where I asked him "Tristan honey, why do you think I'm Mexican?" he replied "Because you are?" I can't help but laugh. Anyways, back to the subject at hand. If my boys are feuding like enemies planning their next attack (or maybe just like family) a little bit of "mommy comedy" goes a long way. They laugh and giggle and totally forget what they were fighting about until 5 minutes later when someone knocked someone else in the head with a toy "on accident". The power of  misdirection. It never fails.