The Art of Shoplifting

A few days ago, the kids and I got some fresh corn from a local farmer’s market. We all love corn, but not as much as Karsin. I decided if we were going to make this corn I needed to find some of those Corn Cob holders. You know, the ones that you stick into the ends of the corn cob and then you have handles? There is a Marshalls just down the street from our apartment and I knew they would have some in the kitchen section. The kids and I got dressed, grabbed our things, and out the door we went. We walk every where here. We refers to Coen, Keyton, and myself. Karsin gets the luxury  of riding in the stroller. As soon as we get to Marshalls we made a mad dash to the kitchen area and pretty quickly spotted the last pack of corn cob holder things. (do these  have an actual name? if they do comment it please!)  After a LOT of fighting about who got to hold them, Karsin won. I decided to rummage through some sale racks. I found several items so we all went across the store to the changing room. Like most trips, nothing worked, except this one tank top that had a hole in the seam. I decided to go see if they would discount it even more than it already was, I could fix the hole or just deal with it. We make it to the check out and the line we ridiculously long. I rudely left the shirt on a shelf and told the kids, “Let’s go. I don’t want to wait. It’s not worth it!” and we left.

We took a different way home and came across a really cool park with a play ground and splash pad. I taught the kids that its OK to play in the water even if you don’t have a swim suit. We stayed and had a great time. When we got back to the apartment Karsin and I sat in the kitchen floor with the corn and a trash can and started shucking. I was half way through when it hit me, “OH CRAP! We went all the way to Marshalls to get corn cob holders and we left without them!!!” Karsin said, “No we didn’t mom!” she ran to the stroller, reached into the basket under the seat, and pulled out the pack! Coen and Keyton realized immediately what had happened and started yelling, “MOM, you STOLE them!” This sent Karsin into a panic because she just knew the cops were going to show up and take me to jail. The boys knowing that she felt this way would knock on the door and say, “oh no! I bet its the police!” and Karsin would flip out. It was an incident that I know they will always remember.

All I could think was, “what now?” I have to be honest, I didn’t want to walk back the next day to stand in line to pay for a $4 item! At the same time this was obviously a HUGE teaching moment. I calmed Karsin down and told her the boys were being mean and that the cops weren’t going to come get me. I then explained to all three of them that what had happened was an accident, but that it was still wrong. I told them that we would go back first thing the next day and pay for them. They asked, “Why? No one saw us or knows.” I corrected them, “God saw us. He knows. What do you think He would want us to do?” I sat the package aside and we went about our night. Any one want to guess what all three kids were shouting at Cody when he walked in the door that evening!?

The next morning Karsin was the first one up and as we sat on the couch I told her what a beautiful day it was going to be. I suggested we go back to the park with our bathing suits this time and she replied, “Yes, but we need to pay for those things first mom.”

The point to all of this is, its not what we do, but how we do it that matters. So I accidentally stole something. Yes my kids will remember that always, but they will also remember going out of the way to make that right. We are all going to do stupid things that our children will witness, but its how we handle these situations that really matter. I am a big believer in being real with my children. I do not want them growing up thinking that I am perfect. (which is a good thing cause I’ve blown that already!) I want them to see that I am still learning how to be a better mom, wife, and individual. I think it is so important for them to see me apologize and admit when I am wrong. They see everything and remember just as much!

So, let’s stop feeling guilty when our kids see us acting human. Give your self grace, correct your behavior,  and move on!