The kindness of strangers
Today Seth and I were in our neighborhood Quik Trip. (Oh Quik Trip, how I love thee! Your fountain soda selection is lovely. And although I get dizzy thinking about all of the crazy concoctions I could create, alas I get the same thing everytime.)
As Seth and I stood in line to pay for my “Coke cocktail” (3/4 diet coke with 1/4 regular Coke) and his chocolate milk, Seth did what he usually does. He squatted down to study the candy bins. (I am amazed at how the candy bins can capture his full attention for minutes on end. Nothing but the Hotwheels aisle at Target can compete.)
At one point he turned to me and said, “Mom, could I please have a piece of candy?” He gave me “the eyes”. You know what I mean. Those sweet, innocent eyes commonly found on Precious Moments figurines. Only a person with a shriveled heart made out of tar can resist “the eyes”.
At that point I said, “Sure bun. You can have a Tootsie Roll.”
He said, “Thank you”, then picked out two small Tootsie rolls. Then he quickly, quietly returned to my side. (And yes, I said “one” but when it comes to little boys who hate to stand still in a line, but do so with no fuss or fury, taking an extra Tootsie roll is a silly thing to make an issue out of, yes?)
A Quik Trip employee who was stocking the candy bins caught the exchange. He said to me, “You know, I rarely hear a child ask for candy in such a polite way. Most kids start whining or screaming at their parents to buy something. You’ve got a really great kid there.”
Of course, this made me melt.
“Yes. He IS a pretty good boy,” I said. “I thinking we’ll probably keep him.”
The employee laughed and walked away.
When we got back out to the car, I gave him a big hug. I only let go when he said, “Mooommmm. You’re hugging me too tight.” I told him how proud I am of him and how wonderful he is.
Seth is a high-energy, motor mouth. He’s a tornado disguised as a little boy. My patience had been wearing thin lately. I needed a stranger to remind me of his sweetness. I feel kind of guilty that I did so, but yet so grateful someone did.
(And trust me, although he’s a good kid, he’s not always that well-behaved.)
Red on 24 Oct 2006 at 5:41 am #
Just, awwwwwwwwww!!
Anonymous on 24 Oct 2006 at 6:18 am #
awe lisa your little boy is just so great!!
Lisa Goldstein/Kelly Kelly on 24 Oct 2006 at 12:07 pm #
It is always nice to hear those comments from someone else. I am glad you got to be reminded from the outside perspective.
Lisa
Anonymous on 24 Oct 2006 at 12:07 pm #
What a good boy!
I had a similar experience this past weekend, when some friends went on and on about how good the boys were–sweet and polite and well behaved. I stopped and looked at them through strangers eyes and saw completely different children. It was eye-opening.
Christina_the_wench on 24 Oct 2006 at 12:33 pm #
It’s sometimes hard to see what is right before our eyes.
I still want to pitch his cheeks in that “Lil Bun” photo on the side of your blog.
HollowSquirrel on 24 Oct 2006 at 1:34 pm #
How many Peppermint Patties did you buy? Just sayin…
melissa b. on 24 Oct 2006 at 1:42 pm #
It’s lovely to hear those little confirmations that allow you to, right now, that very moment, see the sweetness and goodness in the little terror that may normally send you weeping to the hills. It’s the only way we stay close to sanity, empahsis on close…because really, motherhood is hard dammit.
Reba on 24 Oct 2006 at 2:00 pm #
It is so refreshing when people praise your child. I often forget how well behaved Munchkin is. That is why I love the show Supernanny. All I have to do is watch one episode and I realize he is the best kid in the world.
Andrea on 24 Oct 2006 at 2:14 pm #
In this age, when people in public have no trouble pointing out when your (my) child is being a brat, it’s really nice to hear about people still appreciating the well-behaved ones. There are moments when I have to remind myself that I am lucky, because usually in public Gabe is content to sit in the cart and watch people around him or the stuff whiz by in the aisles we don’t go into. He’s never whined for candy or toys, and only occasionally will I have a problem with him trying to grab stuff off the shelves. I need to remind myself sometimes too that I have a good kid. For the most part.
Jen on 24 Oct 2006 at 2:19 pm #
Awww. Just what you needed to help you forget about the menthol oil and the crushed thumb!
(This also brought back memories of begging my own mother for candy at the store. I always wanted Nerds… and I was never allowed to get them. Something about “the stores just put the candy there to trick you into buying them”.)
Mom Nancy on 24 Oct 2006 at 2:48 pm #
Doesn’t stink when you can no longer get away with, “That candy belongs to the store. We have to leave it here.” ?
Anonymous on 24 Oct 2006 at 2:53 pm #
Very sweet little man…he deserves to be praised.
Cagey on 24 Oct 2006 at 3:53 pm #
That’s awesome to get positive confirmation from an outside source.
Seth sounds like a kid with personality. Nothing wrong with that, either!
carrie on 24 Oct 2006 at 7:32 pm #
A completely unsolicited compliment from stranger would make my day too! They are angels in disguise!
And I’d totally give in to those “eyes” too — have many of time — at the hotwheels aisle in Tar-jay!
Carrie
ps. even tornadoes have a calm eye in the middle, kinda like little boys!
Anonymous on 24 Oct 2006 at 7:35 pm #
no banging your head today, eh?
hehe
Pattie on 24 Oct 2006 at 7:47 pm #
You know what I think Lisa?
You are doing something right in raising him. Good manners don’t happen by accident. He is still so young, BUT just the fact he can behave that way under such temptation, shows he understands the lessons you are teaching him. Good job, Mom! (oh, and Dad, of course!)
Tonya on 24 Oct 2006 at 8:31 pm #
You need to submit this to Kelly’s Pass the Torch Tuesday. I don’t have time to link it all for you, but you can find a link at my site.
What a great boy you there!
Tonya on 24 Oct 2006 at 8:31 pm #
Oops! That should say, “What a great boy you have there.”
And QT rocks in our house!
Sarah on 24 Oct 2006 at 10:26 pm #
Adorable!
Tuesday Girl on 24 Oct 2006 at 11:20 pm #
I had something very similar just happen to me.
Those boys just melt you don’t they?
Suebob on 25 Oct 2006 at 1:17 am #
Aw.
Amber on 25 Oct 2006 at 1:44 am #
LOL! The same thing happened to me last week (stranger commenting how good my daughter was) and I had a good chuckle and reminder over how great she can be. With toddlers, we sometimes need reminding.
Mommy off the Record on 25 Oct 2006 at 4:11 am #
Awww. Lil bun does seem like a great kid. I mean, even I don’t ask for candy that politely!!
Red Rollerskate on 25 Oct 2006 at 4:24 am #
Great post. I love this part:
You know what I mean. Those sweet, innocent eyes commonly found on Precious Moments figurines. Only a person with a shriveled heart made out of tar can resist “the eyes”.
He is pretty darn cute, so you had no choice in the matter, really.
Jenn on 25 Oct 2006 at 7:26 pm #
Yea, sometimes that “kick in the ass” is all you need. =o)
Plus, well behaved or not he’s soo damn cute!
Becky on 25 Oct 2006 at 7:39 pm #
aww sometimes people can see what we cant. hannah isn’t always good either. but she is SO sweet and that makes up for it most the time!
reformattingmybrain on 26 Oct 2006 at 2:21 pm #
Similar thing happened to me… while getting my hair cut. My son sat quietly, not moving - you’da thought I glued him to the chair, eating his snack. Everybody working and stopping in for a haircut kept telling me how well behaved he is and how quiet he is and how cute he is and I’m SO lucky and yada yada yada. And all I could say is “Ya’ll want to come home and see the boy I know!” haha He is usually a very well behaved kid - but watch out he has is boy side at home!
But everybody can tell me all those good things about him - I always melt and then attempt to give him a million kisses.