The other day while I was getting the boys their lunch, I came across a treat I had stashed away from prying eyes. All of a sudden, I realized that maybe, just maybe, the kids aren't the only ones in the house with entitlement issues.
I love treats, as evidenced by my post a few weeks ago. And I need to accomplish very little, it appears, to feel like I deserve a treat.
Get the kids in bed without losing my temper? That's worth a handful of M&Ms.
Get the kids in bed and only lose my temper once? Two M&Ms.
Survive a long day with the kids? Two cookies.
Survive a long day with the kids while my husband's out of town? Two donuts.
Lose five pounds? Get a new shirt and a fun treat. (Losing weight is big news--especially with all the treats I'm consuming.)
When I found the treat I had stashed away, I flashed back to when I bought it. I had taken S with me to Wal-mart because she desperately needed new snow boots. The whole time, she was, of course, asking for things. "Can I get a shirt with a heart on it?" "Can you buy me a stuffed animal?" "Can you get me some new lip gloss?" My answer was "no" on all accounts. I also remember saying to her, "I brought you with me so you could try on new boots. What makes you think that means you also get a treat or a toy?"
The shopping excursion took quite long, compounded by the fact that I had to drop off and then pick up a prescription, and also get a sandwich for A at the Subway in-store. Then, I realized S had held a present for a friend all through checkout and I hadn't paid for it. When we went back into Wal-mart to pay for the toy, I looked at the impulse buy treats next to me, and picked up a few. After all, I had survived a long and frustrating grocery trip. I deserved it, right? Right?
And no, I didn't offer anything to S.
I really shouldn't wonder why my children have such entitlement issues. They learned it by watching me.
Also, I'm starting to think I need to examine my treat addiction...
3 comments:
yea...i'm no help on this. I'm exactly the same way. Something about sharing the treats doesnt' make them feel as special. I also get totally annoyed if my husband finds my treats and eats them like he doesn't deserve them somehow. Issues I tell you...issues!!
I think moms do deserve treats. And isn't it even better when you frget you had them hidden and then get one. This reminds me, I still have those Lindor Choclate balls hidden somewhere....
I'm glad to hear you say no and they're still asking. I feel like I'm always saying no, no, no to so many things, and in fact I want to end the conversation about what they want. I say to them, "I don't care what you want. I really don't." and yet they keep asking.
I love candy. How can you only eat 2 m&ms, that's not possible.
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