Stealing: Take Two

I dragged the kids with me on errands Sunday, and I know that it can be torture for all of us. Our second stop was Michael's, aka The Crafty Store, for school event supplies, a little sidewalk chalk and some long overdue crafts for home.

As harried as I was by the stuff they constantly asked for, I kept to my word, allowing them each a new bucket and shovel for the sandbox, and they seemed satisfied until we got to the checkout counter, where a little box of shiny and beautiful stretchy rings were on display for little eyes to admire.

They both wanted one, and were examining the rings, trying them on, and when I said, "no," they put them back.

Or so I thought.

Onward to the grocery store and home. Fast forward to Monday afternoon when Evie comes into the kitchen I was busy cleaning, saying, "Mommy, I want to show you my ring."

When I saw it I went silent. What a disappointment that my children had taken a ring from the store, and more disappointing that I didn't catch it when it happened.

When I asked Evie, she said Maisey had hidden it behind her back and took it with her. I was livid. Maisey and I have had this conversation once before when she was Evie's age. She had stolen candy. I found her with it in the car, and immediately drove her to the store and told her to return it to the cashier with an apology. She cried, but did as she was told. We talked about how stealing was wrong, and I thought she understood. Now at almost, 7, I wondered if that lesson had been learned afterall.

I put the ring in my pocket, and we went to pick up Maisey from school.

Evie fell asleep in the car, but still I drove over to the Craft Store and parked. Then I pulled out the ring and asked Maisey if she stole it. She said no, Evie had stolen it. I was torn. Is she lying? Was Evie lying? How do I get to the truth? How to I deal with lying and stealing?

Maisey was adamant that Evie had done it but changed her story, first saying she saw Evie hide it in her pocket in the store and then saying she saw Evie with it in the car. I did the only thing I could do: I told Maisey that even if she didn't take the ring, when she saw Evie with it she should have told me immediately. I asked her to take the ring to the cashier, tell him/her what happened, and be sure to apologize, which she did. All the while Evie was asleep.

Tuesday morning Evie asked me where her sparkly ring was. I told her it wasn't her ring, that it belonged in the store, and that's where we returned it yesterday. Then I asked her again if she had put it in her pocket to take home, and she said yes, she did. Then she said no, Maisey took it. I think I found my culprit. While the prime opportunity was lost, I told Evie the we don't take things that don't belong to us, and we never, ever lie about it.

What makes me feel so foolish is believing Evelyn so completely in the first place, and not believing Maisey at all when she said she hadn't taken it. Where was my Mommy Radar? Figuring out how to explain to a preschooler that lying and stealing are both unacceptable is causing me anquish. Did any of it sink in? While she listened, I don't think it did.

What would you do if it were your child?

Mudge

Okay, so we agreed that we would wait until after summer to start even thinking about another pet, despite the girls' daily pleading and wailing about wanting one, because we still feel the loss of our beloved Chief. Clint and I were united in this matter, and that was a relief. So this is what united parenting feels like. Ah, but it didn't last long, because two weeks ago, I found this little guy trotting up the back road on my way to pick up Maisey from school.

He's the cutest little Chug--chihuahua and pug mix. We tried to find his owners, spoke to the neighbors, called the kennel lady down the road, as well as the local adoption agency, and no one had reported him missing. It's as if he was set down on that back road, just waiting for me to appear (This is how some some college kids and local eejits deal with an impulsive adoption decision and/or their unspayed and/or unneutered pets' offspring. And it happens a lot).

The girls were attached instantly. Evie especially, as I had to put the puppy in her lap so that I could drive the rest of the way to get Maisey that day. Who could resist this adorable cuteness?

Even Clint fell prey to the cutness factor.

After an immediate checkup to treat his cold and worms, the days began to slip by and we were caught up in puppy's, feeding, potty training, playing, and sleeping. We started calling him Mudge. But throughout that first week, there were several "incidents" where the kids at various times and ways dropped poor little Mudge. Then it happened.

He broke his leg.

I rushed him to the vet, and got him patched up. I felt so guilty. Clint was angry. The biggest lesson I learned this week is that my seemingly precocious 3 1/2 year old is not quite ready for a puppy. At least not without constant supervision.

You'd think I was smart enough to know that already, but there it is. Evie and I both learned something the hard way.

We now employ a three pronged approach to the new addition: training puppy, teaching children about pet responsibility and safety, and adult adjustments to even more responsibility.

Little Mudge is doing just fine, and I am hoping the new rules keep everyone safe and happy. The upside could be that we have a pegleg puppy to play pirate with. If they were allowed to play with him now. They're not. He's not supposed to run or play until his leg is completely healed, but Mudge doesn't agree with that treatment plan. He's been a challenge to stop when he gets wound up--which might provide a little insight as to why I found him on the road in the first place. He's a bitey little tasmanian devil sometimes.

As of yesterday he was his bitey, running, crazy little self, running on three legs, his pegleg just skimming the grass, his little growl very close to a pirate's arrrgh matey.I had to laugh. He fits right in here.

Spring Break: Easter

We finally arrived at the parents' farm and a few days of relaxing with family.

After a visit with Aunts Frances and Margaret, where the girls made wreaths and I learned the purl knitting technique, we returned to the grandparents' house for family dinner.

Then back to the grandparents' house for the Big Easter Egg Hunt.

PawPaw shows them the boundaries.

Off they go!

Now to check out their loot.

While they were hunting eggs, the Easter Bunny left them a little basket.

Now outside to play!

A wonderful week was had by all.