Today, as I finished loading the ice cream into the hot car and buckling Little Bug into his car seat, I noticed that a CD I had meant to purchase had been wedged down the side of the cart. A quick look at the receipt verified that it had not been paid for.
I am ashamed to admit that I stood there for a full minute with that unintentionally stolen CD trying to decide if and how I was going to remedy the situation. The truth of the matter is that it seemed easiest to just hop in the car and drive away. I certainly wasn't going to be chased down by the police.
The little angel on my shoulder kept arguing that I'd never be able to enjoy that CD and I wouldn't be able to sleep for my guilt, but the little devil on my shoulder complained that it was dinner time, hot enough to already be melting my ice cream, and a huge pain in the butt to have to unbuckle my kid and drag him back into the store.
Like I said, a full minute passed as I stood there in the parking lot looking at this CD. I am not proud of that.
Suddenly it hit me. WWLBD? What would Little Bug do? Or rather, what would I want Little Bug to do? As his parent, my morals and example are what will shape who he will become. If I stole that CD, even if it wasn't premeditated, I would be less of a person than I want my son to be, and I couldn't stand for that.
So Little Bug was dragged out of the car, the ice cream melted, and the young girl at customer service looked at me like I was crazy, but I paid for that CD and enjoyed it the whole way home.
Little Bug, someday when you are faced with a decision that might not be easy but is definitely right, I hope you will be able to think WWMD and make the right choice.
I LOVE THIS POST. Because I can see myself in this dilemma too. I, too, would stand there and think for a minute because it would have been so.much.easier to just drive away. But, like you, my conscience would have gone crazy if I did that and I'd be totally ashamed later. I may have to start thinking What Would S. Do from now on ...
ReplyDeleteI am with you. We have had to go back in to the grocery store to pay for a fountain drink and a balloon. It's not about the money, it's about the message. They really hold us accountable, don't they?
ReplyDeleteSo true! I recently stuck my tongue out at a nasty driver and I immediately felt guilty, cuz soon Gabe will understand that and that's no way to behave.
ReplyDeleteIt is so true what they say...having kids does make you a better person. I'm always aware that everything I do impacts the kind of men my sons will grow up to be.
ReplyDeleteOhhh....that would have been a tough decision. Just for the sheer pain of it all. Good for you. I'm going to use you as an example next time I'm faced with something like that!
ReplyDeleteGreat post! It's true though...you're definitely a woman that does the right thing. It's ok that you contemplated. I would have done the same thing. Especially knowing that you have to take your son out of the car seat and back in to the store.
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