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Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Because This Mama Ain't Raising No Fool
Yesterday we went to Walgreens. Upon driving home I discovered that Lil Man had an item in his hand that he took from the store unbeknownst to me. I was very upset. He knows better than to take something from a store. I gave him a proper reprimand and I drove his sorry behind right back to the store so he could return it.
Sheepishly he went over to the check out clerk, with tear stained cheeks and quivering lips and gave the item back to her. She didn't ask why, because it was obvious what happen. Lil Man apologized for what he did and she told him he did the right thing and then proceeded to give him a lollipop. I thanked her for the gesture, but shook my head "no" as I didn't feel it was appropriate for that situation.
A lady in the check out line had observed the whole situation and felt it her duty to pipe up at this point.
"Wow you sure are a strict Mom!" She said loudly.
"First you embarrassed the child by making him return the item and then you won't even let him get a lollipop???" The lady said. "That's kinda mean you don't think???"
That's okay, she can call me mean. Mean Mama's kids don't end up in jail. I'm tired of seeing parents' trying to be their kids best friend. Parents need to be exactly that - parents. Kids thrive off boundaries, structure and discipline, so I'll take "mean" anyday if it saves my children from self destruction.
Do you suppose she might be the grandmother of this 7 year old boy? Better yet, is she the parent of one of these 3rd graders?
Was I really too hard on my son? What would you have done if it was your child that took something from a store and you found out later?
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Sha~Dou!
Sheepishly he went over to the check out clerk, with tear stained cheeks and quivering lips and gave the item back to her. She didn't ask why, because it was obvious what happen. Lil Man apologized for what he did and she told him he did the right thing and then proceeded to give him a lollipop. I thanked her for the gesture, but shook my head "no" as I didn't feel it was appropriate for that situation.
A lady in the check out line had observed the whole situation and felt it her duty to pipe up at this point.
"Wow you sure are a strict Mom!" She said loudly.
"First you embarrassed the child by making him return the item and then you won't even let him get a lollipop???" The lady said. "That's kinda mean you don't think???"
That's okay, she can call me mean. Mean Mama's kids don't end up in jail. I'm tired of seeing parents' trying to be their kids best friend. Parents need to be exactly that - parents. Kids thrive off boundaries, structure and discipline, so I'll take "mean" anyday if it saves my children from self destruction.
Do you suppose she might be the grandmother of this 7 year old boy? Better yet, is she the parent of one of these 3rd graders?
Was I really too hard on my son? What would you have done if it was your child that took something from a store and you found out later?
Looking for gifts, apparels and novelties with a green theme? Check us out at
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18 comments:
She said ALL those things to you! Who does she think she is?! How crazy!
Sorry....I also wanted to add...you did the right thing! Way to go Mom!
Wow she thought that was mean, I would have done exactly as you did except I would have him wear a sighn that says "I stole from walgreens, can you ever forgive me" I want to make sure that next time the thought doesn't even enter his little head.
You are doing great.
We actually caught our son taking "extra" candies out of the bins at Whole Foods. We didn't tell him we knew. We simply let him go about his business until we got to the register which is when my husband asked the cashier if we could speak to the manager. She came over and my husband told her she may want to check our pockets - yes, all of us! This way my other two boys got a feel for what could happen as well.
People were gawking and pointing but we didn't care because we knew he was getting the point. He cried and cried when his "crime" was discovered. It obvisouly worked. He has never stolen again and that was two years ago!
Way to go, mom! You did the right thing!
I get called a "mean mom" a lot because I enforce rules and boundaries. I have had the chance to think about it so often that I've come up with a response for the next time I'm called a Mean Mom:
"No, I am not a mean mom.
I am a loving mom.
I love my child enough to teach him right from wrong.
I love him enough to want to instill a desire for impeccable character.
I love him enough to raise him to be a man of integrity.
A mean mom allows the world to teach her child right from wrong.
A mean mom makes excuses for abhorrent behavior, rather than correcting it.
A mean mom tries to be a friend to her child, when they really need a parent."
You definitely did the right thing.
I think you're right on track, though I don't know how old he is. If he was two or three, maybe I'd cut him some slack. Older than that (and he sounds like he is if he was crying) and I'm right there with you!
Gosh, I'll bet you don't let your kids play in the street or eat ice cream for breakfast either....
Mean moms unite! :-)
You did the right thing. Why reward bad behavior with a lolly? Hello!! That's called defeating the purpose!
You are a good Mama, and had I been in line, I would have thanked you for being a parent who cares.
Ooohhh, don't get me started on stuff like this!
I would have said no to the lolly too. I want my children to understand that we do the right thing BECAUSE it is the right thing, not because we can get a reward for it!
That woman needed to understand that you are guiding your child's character development and impacting his future. And you prefer his future to include all the joys and freedoms of living a responsible life-- not 5 to 10 in the pen!!
What?!?!?!?! I would have given her a piece of my mind for butting into something that was none of her business in the first place. People have some damn nerve to pipe into other people's business, that drives me insane lol.
You did the right thing, I would have done the same and my child wouldn't be rewarded for doing something that shouldn't have had to have been done in the first place. You're a great mom!
I am right there with being a "mean" mom and everything. You did the right thing. He took something without asking and was punished (I can't think of a better word right now).
People kill me, they are so afraid to take care of their own kids when they do something like this but are so willing to speak up when it's someone else's kids.
What an absolutely interfering wretch. She has no right getting involved as you teach your son to do the right thing.
Good job, except you should have given her a tongue lashing too.
WOW! Someone actually told you that you are mean? Well, I guess you could reply with "best to take care of accompanying him NOW with a stolen lollipop, vs. accompanying him to juvenile court in 6-7 years for grand theft auto!" I mean, not that that would be the case...but obviously parents who turn a blind eye are the ones whose kids are out there causing serious crime!
You did right!
You did the RIGHT thing. He needs to know what he did was wrong.
I am sitting here refusing to believe what that lady said. You did the right thing. When Christopher took a little shirt for Alyssa I scolded him, also throwing in there that people who steal go to jail. Unfortunately, since the mall was too far to drive back I didn't take it back. I was wrong not to but maybe the scolding worked. He never did it again.
I think she was absolutely out of place and you're right to refuse the lollipop. I would too.
Wow! people sure don't know how to mind their own business do they?
You did the absolute right thing!
Girl, you were 100% right. That woman was crazy. That's why there are so many rude and crazy kids out here today.
By the way that southwestern dish sounds delish!
She hasn't a clue about parenting! I didn't even check out the links yet. Okay, maybe after I vent. Humph!
What?! I'm still stuck on what she said.
It's none of her business if you want to raise a responsible citizen. That's the problem right there! Everything is a damn mess in the world that good stuff starts to look wrong.
Fools!
By the way, I vote NO for the lollipop!
This mama doesn't reward bad behavior or wrong choices. Ya hear!