"The End of the World"

While I was out this morning with my almost 4-year old son, Brady, I kept thinking about the slices of BBQ chicken pizza that were at home in my fridge. Well, I wasn't thinking of them the whole time, but when I thought about what I would eat for lunch, that popped right into my head. Yummy, homemade pizza, with "my name" on it.

So, after Brady and I got home from running our errands, I said something like this to Dawson, , "I am going to have the BBQ chicken pizza for lunch!" His response..."oh, um, Smiles and I ate it for lunch..." I looked at him and said something like, "really?" and he said, "Uh huh" - or something like that!

I could not believe it!!! I had made two pizza pies a couple days ago, and so far I had only eaten two pieces...TWO!!! There were only three slices left this morning, but they were all for me (if I really wanted them)...or so I thought!

Well, I have to say, that I lost it! I am not proud of that, but I could not believe that Dawson ate my yummy pizza when I had just reassured him the day before that I was going to eat my pizza...it wasn't going bad! I did not yell, but I sure did "let him have it" in front of my almost four year old...REALLY NOT proud of that. I was just saying things like, "I can't believe that you ate my pizza! I was going to eat that today! There were other things that you could have eaten! etc." As I was saying these things, I DID realize that I was not being a good example to my son on how to handle a situation calmly, but I had already let it out...

My son's response went something like this, "Mommy, it's not the end of the world or anything. (Pause) Daddy is just kidding with you!"

I think that I have used that phrase with him before when he has become really upset, and now my words were being used on myself! I did take some time to calm down and forgive my husband - yes, over pizza! So, I ate homemade turkey noodle soup - although I forgot to add the turkey because I was not in the best of moods!

What did I learn out of this???

I have a great reminder that my son(s) do absorb what we are teaching them, and that I am an example to them 24/7. I cannot control what others do, but I can control my own behavior. That is what I am trying to teach them...and that is how I need to live too!

(I have to admit, that when he said what he did, it made me laugh a little!)