Every once in a while . . . we really should listen to our kids

‘Tis the season . . . yes, school is just around the corner. And today it was time to return to Target and pick up the last of Katie’s school supplies. Well, it turns out I actually had to pick up most of Katie’s school supplies, as much of what I purchased earlier last month have been opened and used during our creative projects this summer. Ah, well. I love shopping for school supplies (especially when they are on sale!) . . . and this shopping excursion today was a particularly great one.

I couldn’t believe how so many of the bins at our local Target were already empty (or close to it). School does start in a little over two weeks, but I didn’t expect to have such a hard time finding things. That is, until I overheard a very Wise Young Boy as he shopped with his mom.

His mom was the kind of person who likes to read her shopping list out loud – and not just once, but multiple times. “Yellow Highlighters, 2”, “Yellow Highlighters, 2” she repeated over and over. And it’s not like she was saying the list out loud for her sons sake – because every time he touched something, she would pick her eyes up from the list long enough to reprimand him, “Put that down!” she would yell, “You don’t need that.” What's sad is that most of what he picked up was what she just named from the list – but she didn’t bother to notice.

Things really got heated when it came to the Index cards – 3X5 in size – lined. Both the Wise Young Boy’s Mom and I faced this particular bin at the very same time, both looking inside to find that every last index card had been purchased. This was the last thing I needed on my list, but I wasn’t too worried (I still have a couple weeks to pick them up somewhere.) But Wise Young Boy’s Mom was very aggravated that the index cards were sold out. “You’ve got to be kidding me!” she said loudly … this time she picked up her head long enough to make eye contact with me. I smiled politely, and slowly started to move away from the bin. “Well, this is ridiculous,” she went on, “where the h*** am I supposed to get index cards? Great. Just great…” she exclaimed. I wanted to tell her exactly where she could get index cards ;), like Walmart, Jewel, Walgreens, or CVS, but I don’t think she was really asking me, so I let it pass.

This is when Wise Young Boy spoke up. “Mom,” he said, “Why don’t we just look over where the regular school supplies are kept,” he suggested. “What are you talking about?” she answered (she really wasn’t very nice); “THIS is where the school supplies are, David.” “No,” he said, “I mean, over on the other side of the store – in the aisle where they usually keep this stuff. We should look there.” He suggested, again. “No, they are out of them, David. They won’t have any there. This is just great . . . now I have to go all over the world to try and find these d*** school supplies, like I’ve got nothing better to do.” (By now, I didn’t like this woman at all.) I glanced at Wise Young Boy and gave him a small smile, which he politely returned, and I walked away.

And I walked straight over to the aisle David suggested. Would you believe it . . . there, for all to take, were the Index cards – 3X5 in size – lined. I smiled as I picked up 4 packs of them, and tossed them into my cart.

At the register, I spotted David and his Mom. Knowing me, I couldn’t just let this go. I picked up one pack of the index cards and handed it to David, “Great Idea to check the aisle where the school supplies are kept! Thanks, David! You are a smart kid!”

His wide eyes turned from me to his Mom.

And I walked away . . .

I didn’t bother looking back at David’s Mom. But, boy oh boy, I wish I had eyes on the back of my head. I would have loved to see the expression on her face.

Yes, every once in a while we really should listen to our kids. Don’t you agree?