Two nights ago Peyson and I went to pick up dinner. Soda first, then pizza. I am fully aware of how often we do this. But we like it. A lot. And we don't like cooking all the time. . .ever really. .
.AnYwAy. We stopped at the "mug store" to get gas and soda
(it's not the gas station because we hardly ever stop for gas. . .but a mug. . .yes. . .the mug store).
We were filling up with soda when Peyson asked if we had any candy at home. I said no. He said we really needed to buy some. I said no, we didn't need any. So I'm at the check out counter, talking to the cashier. Of course there are those obnoxious candy bar stands right at the check out right at a child's eye level, mind you, that get you to buy something ridiculously overpriced because you already fought the temptation throughout the store but you have to stand in line and wait and stare at them until you either give in and buy something or finally pay and leave. Peyson was eyeing them. I was paying close enough attention to him to know he was right by me and not lost or stolen, but not close enough to notice that he reached for a candy bar in said obnoxious candy bar stand.
Keep in mind. . .everybody has agency. . .no matter how awesome. . .or not awesome their parents are.
I finish paying and turn around to leave and Peyson was standing there with is hands behind his back. I said let's go and took a step to the door and he turned so I couldn't see what was behind his back. He does this at home sometimes when he is doing something he knows he shouldn't, so I knew what was happening. I told him to put it back and he did. We got to the car and I sat him in his seat. I told him quite sternly that what he was about to do was called steeling and that it was against the law. We have to pay for things before we take them from the store. He was sad and embarrassed and also mad that he couldn't have a candy bar. I'm not sure he was listening because he turned his head to the blaring lights on the cop cars that sped by.
TEACHING OPPORTUNITY!
As I was somewhere in the middle of my "I'm trying to teach you something important so I'll repeat myself 17 times in a different way so you will get it" ramble, explaining to Peyson what steeling was and why it was bad, when those cops rudely interrupted me:) So I said, "do you want those cops to come and take you to jail?" That caught his attention and he turned to me with scared little eyes and said no. I told him that when people steel the cops have to come and take them to jail. His eyes filled with tears and he began to sob. . .then cry. . .out loud. . .very loud. . .near hysterics. I was like. . .whoa whoa whoa. . .what's wrong? Crying so hard he said,
I don't wanna go to jail! I was like dude, you didn't steel, I saw before we left the store and made you put it back. It's ok. You aren't going to jail, but if you ever steel then that is what will happen.
OH. BOY.
He finally calmed down after a few minutes on the way to get pizza. I told him I loved him and always would. No matter what.
Maybe it was a little over the top. Maybe it scared him enough to never steel. Maybe he just thinks I'm a big jerk. I don't know. Whatever he thinks, I'm sure he was scared to death!
Before Christmas I started the process of planning Peyson's birthday. At this point he was completely obsessed with Batman. One day it just made sense to have a Batman party. He thought it was a great idea so we did it.
We invited 8 boys from our ward. That is a lot of chaos. But they all had fun so the two hours of insanity was worth it I think.
We played pin the bat on the moon. We had a balloon stomp. We had a pinata. . .the kind you beat with a bat (I made it. . .Derek helped some. . .and informed me that it was a complete waste of time:) Whatever. . .it was fun for me). The boys had fun with that. It went through all the boys twice. . .without the blindfold. . .it just wouldn't break. We had cupcakes. They pulled all the balloons from the ceiling and popped them all too. Then as parents were coming to pick up kids they played Batman Batman Robbin (duck duck goose).
After the party, we took Peyson to McDonald's for dinner and he played in the play place for awhile, but was more excited to go home to open presents from Grandmas:)