Thursday 6 August 2009

Healthy parenting

I had to stop in at the grocery store on the way home today. So I left work at my usual time, walked the three minutes to where I was parked and then drove the two blocks to the daycare to get Deaglan. After buckling him in I gave him his sippy filled with cold water and a bag of seedless grapes to snack on and then drove to the nearby grocery store.

When he's in the car I always adjust the rearview mirror so that I can see him and the road behind me. After being away from him all day, I try to drink in that little face as much as I can. He's very serious about his after school snack and it's about the only time I'm not swearing under my breath that this kid just doesn't like anything I put in front of him.

At A&P I grab a cart and lift him in and then take out my wipes and clean the sides and handle of the cart. I only need a few things so I start at the produce aisle, grab the bananas and hummus, make my way over to the bakery and find the freshest whole wheat pita available and then finish off by getting a large brick of marble cheese and a bag of multigrain tostitos. Up until the chip aisle Deaglan has been content with the box of raisins I had handed him upon entering the store.

Chhhheeeps he begins to screetch at the top of his voice, cheeeeeps plllleeeeease. A few people look over and smile. Plllleeease!!!!!! he pleads.

I meet one of these smiling stranger's eyes and shrug slightly embarrassed.

"Sounds like he wants some chips," she laughs.

He couldn't be pleading for the bananas of course and it's about the only time in the last two days that he's remembered to say please. I feel like I've been caught red-handed. My first instinct is to explain to the lady that he only gets junk food once in a while and he has just finished daycare and and...and then I stop.

"Yes, he loves chips," I admit and then open the bag and give him two to stop the damn screetching.

13 comments:

  1. Too funny Kim! I always love your stories... it helps me look forward to all of the funny things my little one is going to be doing/saying.

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  2. My 12 year old follows me around the store and begs for cookies, donuts, etc. I wish he would beg for a banana!

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  3. Okay, it's official: I adore you and your son. We would totally be friends in real life if we lived in the same town, or even two towns over. Bummer that we live so far apart!

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  4. I love it!

    At least he said "please".

    Thanks for my evening laugh!

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  5. Yeah, it doesn't get any better. They get older and it's bigger and better things that they whine and demand.

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  6. Kim-love how he played to the audience. He has you on the slippery slope now. Two chips played in the big game. Too cute! ~rick

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  7. Cute! At least he remembered his manners. :)

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  8. I wish my kids would beg for healthy food too! yeah right!

    My son loves chips too....and I rarely buy them....sometimes you gotta break the rules......and buy them chips!

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  9. Aw, chips once in a while won't kill him. Life is too short to only eat healthy stuff every minute!

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  10. There is nothing wrong with a couple of chips every once in a while. He said please. That is great.

    Good for you for overcoming that urge we moms get to explain a situation that is out of the ordinary. Well done.

    That IS healthy parenting.

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  11. Oh, I love it! Whatever it takes to quiet the kid, I understand! I'm getting so used to getting dirty looks in the grocery stores from people and that unwanted advice from other moms, that if it were me (on a bad day), I probably would've offered it to the lady and said, "I think this is for you. So you'll stop staring and close your mouth." :-)

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  12. I love the "Cheeeeps! Plllease!" part, lol. Too cute!

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  13. lol. Noah, just begs for video games these days. Or, he will beg for a treat and then waste it. argh! :)

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