It was supposed to be a quick run into the superstore to see if there was a toy that my girlfriend wanted for her girl’s Christmas present.

Taking Ben anywhere is quite a challenge.  He wants to look at every toy.

But today, he was good!  He actually had no problem leaving the toy section as soon as we were finished.  So when we checked out, I thought, “I’ll get him a cookie.”

The line was longer for the concessions than for the check out.  During this time, Ben felt the need to be restless with the shopping cart.

“Stop,” I warned him.

About two minutes later, he rammed me with the crazy contraption! 

“That’s it!” I told him, “No cookie.”

He threw a huge fit—right there in the front of the store.

“It was an accident,” he screamed at me, crying and making a huge scene.

We left the store, without the cookie.  He then tells me, “You are on the NAUGHTY LIST!”

“That’s okay.” I tell him.  “I don’t want a present.”

That made him even madder.  He was sure that he could take my emotions and make me reconsider.

It wasn’t the fact that it was an accident.  It was the fact that I told him not to mess with the cart and he did. 

“I understand it was an accident.  But you chose to disobey me,” I explained to him.

He continued to tell me that I was on the NAUGHTY LIST and that Santa was not coming to bring me anything.

I told my husband.  He assured me I was not on the NAUGHTY LIST and proceeded to tell Ben that if he did not change his attitude BEN himself would be on the NAUGHTY LIST because we would email Santa ourselves!

It’s too funny how kids process things.  I had to keep myself from laughing as he told me that I better watch out.

So, if you are reading this and find yourself wanting to share a similar story, please comment!  Sometimes the best stories are the ones that are shared.  I could also use a good laugh!