Read to the tune of “The Gambler” by Kenny Rogers (you gotta know when to fold ‘em)

So. I needed a few groceries the other day (why am I forever writing about food shopping?) for Weekend Survival food - chicken nuggets shaped like dinosaurs, watermelon, Diet Coke. My Shop-Rite has this wonderful invention called Scrunchy’s Playhouse; a babysitting service for the three to eight-year-old set. A mother must’ve came up with the idea, I’m sure of it. And the gals who work there - all heaven sent. I’d love to go in and play with the sand table and video games.

As much as I love Scrunchy’s, and the mental break it gives me to concentrate on my shopping list, my boys are out growing it too fast. The eight-year-old decided against Scrunchy’s this time, the three-year-old went in - no problem there - but the five-year-old boy. Nothin’ doin’. I guess if the Big Brother wasn’t going, then he wasn’t either.

As you can imagine, this turn of events made me… unhappy. And an unhappy shopper mommy means: no treats for anyone. Kind of like the Soup Nazi on Seinfield. No ice cream for YOU.

Back to the drama unfolding at Scrunchy’s Playhouse: if you happened upon the scene, you may have been concerned. You may have wanted to laugh too. Personally, I was stuck between tears and cracking up. A grown woman attempting to physically push her kid into a place he didn’t want to go. Up until now I’ve always had the upper hand mentally and physically. I learned something that day: my five-year-old couldn’t be man (mommy?) handled; that kid is rock-solid strong and just as stubborn as me.

So I lost that fight.

I’m not sure what the point is of this little story, other than the fact that I suspect I have a future football player for a son. I guess the point is: you gotta know when to let them win one every now and then.

I may have lost that battle, but not the war. No ice cream for YOU, little man.

© 2008 Monica Brand | Paper Bridges

—

Sorry if you’re looking for the No-frills blog round up I’ve been posting Saturdays. I just couldn’t get into it this week. Bad blogger. Maybe I’ll get it together for tomorrow.