Monday - I Need To Go Sit In Timeout
Apr. 21st, 2008 12:26 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ninanevermoreToday on my drive into work, I was thinking about the notoriety I have at my local grocery store, and the impression I made the teenagers ringing up and bagging my groceries last night.
My little town has two large chain supermarkets, but when I can I shop at the small, family owned grocery that has been in the community for 90 years. While I don't have as large a selection for most items, I get a very friendly, small town experience and usually a cute teenaged boy will carry my groceries to my car for me (they no longer do that at the big stores).
As our groceries were being rung up yesterday evening, my 3 year old was doing what he could to get attention. He came up behind me and began to pat the side of my hip.
"Look, Mommy, I'm spanking your bottom!" he said. Since my husband I both believe that there are more effective and humane ways to discipline a child than corporal punishment, all the spankings my son has ever received have been in play. He's not even aware that spankings can hurt. His father and I remember from our own childhood that they can smart quite a bit (especially when a switch from a yaupon tree or your father's leather belt is involved), but we've spared him this knowledge. As far as he knows, timeouts are the worst thing that can happen to you. I realized that play spankings might have unintended consequences last night as I got a public play whooping at the checkout counter.
"You're spanking me?" I asked him.
My son nodded, and continued to pat my hip. "Do you need a spanking, Mommy?" he asked.
I looked at him to avoid looking at the teenaged checkout girl and teenaged bag boy, who were watching this exchange with some amusement.
"I don't know," I said, "You'll have to ask your father about that."
The two teenagers almost fell over; the girl choked on a laugh and the boy squeezed his eyes tight to keep from laughing out loud, and blushed a little.
My son and I are known regulars at this establishment, and I expect that the next time I drop in to pick up a gallon of milk, every teenager working in the place that I come in contact with will snicker and grin at me. There is a down side to everyone at the grocery store knowing who you are. Maybe I should just start shopping at the big box stores, instead. There's something to be said for being just another anonymous face in a crowd.
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My little town has two large chain supermarkets, but when I can I shop at the small, family owned grocery that has been in the community for 90 years. While I don't have as large a selection for most items, I get a very friendly, small town experience and usually a cute teenaged boy will carry my groceries to my car for me (they no longer do that at the big stores).
As our groceries were being rung up yesterday evening, my 3 year old was doing what he could to get attention. He came up behind me and began to pat the side of my hip.
"Look, Mommy, I'm spanking your bottom!" he said. Since my husband I both believe that there are more effective and humane ways to discipline a child than corporal punishment, all the spankings my son has ever received have been in play. He's not even aware that spankings can hurt. His father and I remember from our own childhood that they can smart quite a bit (especially when a switch from a yaupon tree or your father's leather belt is involved), but we've spared him this knowledge. As far as he knows, timeouts are the worst thing that can happen to you. I realized that play spankings might have unintended consequences last night as I got a public play whooping at the checkout counter.
"You're spanking me?" I asked him.
My son nodded, and continued to pat my hip. "Do you need a spanking, Mommy?" he asked.
I looked at him to avoid looking at the teenaged checkout girl and teenaged bag boy, who were watching this exchange with some amusement.
"I don't know," I said, "You'll have to ask your father about that."
The two teenagers almost fell over; the girl choked on a laugh and the boy squeezed his eyes tight to keep from laughing out loud, and blushed a little.
My son and I are known regulars at this establishment, and I expect that the next time I drop in to pick up a gallon of milk, every teenager working in the place that I come in contact with will snicker and grin at me. There is a down side to everyone at the grocery store knowing who you are. Maybe I should just start shopping at the big box stores, instead. There's something to be said for being just another anonymous face in a crowd.
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no subject
Date: 2008-04-21 06:05 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-04-21 08:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-04-21 06:06 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-04-22 05:29 pm (UTC)another anonymous face
Date: 2008-04-21 06:17 pm (UTC)Re: another anonymous face
Date: 2008-04-21 08:34 pm (UTC)were corrupt
Date: 2008-04-21 08:42 pm (UTC)Re: another anonymous face
Date: 2008-04-21 08:46 pm (UTC)Re: another anonymous face
Date: 2008-04-22 05:30 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-04-21 08:06 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-04-21 08:34 pm (UTC)