"Me Not Have Nuff"

I just LOVE taking the kids shopping with me. {Please read that with all of the sarcasm intended}. They are constantly begging me to buy them this or that, and there is usually something that they have needed forever and just now remembered to tell mom about. No, is a word that they have come to both despise and expect. I learned by reading an article in the Ensign the other day that it's okay to say "we can't afford it" so I have been using it a lot lately!

Two days ago while shopping at Walmart Braden said something that I have been mulling over since then. When I go to Walmart with all of the kids sometimes it is easiest to send Courtney to the toy section with Braden and Ally to let them LOOK at the toys. Ally understands that they are just browsing but Braden has a little bit of trouble with this concept. To prove it he comes running to find me in the garden section [right next to the toy section] with his arms full of toys. A new tractor and a great big fireman's helmet. He presents them to me and says "me buy them mom?" What could I say to those adorable blue puppy dog eyes? He really did look cute standing there all pleading like. But considering we had just bought a new loader and truck set the last time we were in Walmart [he's kind of good at what he does] I had to tell him No. I'm sure you can imagine how that went over.....like a load of bricks. He ended up throwing a fit in the middle of the hose and glove section after I asked Courtney to go and put the toys back on the shelf. Since this wasn't my first turn around the block with this sort of thing I calmly lifted him up and put him in the seat of the cart.

While I'm pushing the cart he is wailing [yes, I was one of THOSE mom's with one of THOSE kids in Walmart who yell and cry as they are working their way through the store] still trying to plead his case "mom buy me toy" in his loud crying voice and me trying to calm him with the adult rationalization that "people are looking at us buddy, they are thinking that we should be hog tied and gagged or at the very least kicked out of the store, can you calm down and we will discuss this like the rational adults that we are not?" Can you imagine the scene? It would have been funny had it not been so tragic.

Then Braden drops the bomb that got me to thinking.....in the middle of his hysteria he sobs out, "me.... not.... have...[sniff, sniff]....nuff.... toys". I stop the cart and just look at him [incidentally the lady in front of me turns around and gives me the biggest grin]. I ask him "what did you say bud?" he repeats himself "me not have nuff toys". Oh it was priceless I tell you. My poor little boy who's bedroom is overflowing with cars, and tractors , who can't find enough places to store the abundance doesn't have enough. I then reminded him about the many toys he had at home waiting for him and for good measure asked him to pick up his toys when he got home reminding him again to notice how many toys he does have.

Once again, I got to thinking [I'm sorry, I just think too much, hence the many blogs] and I remembered that morning whining [in essence] in my prayers that, although grateful for my blessings, I still didn't have enough. "Could I please have this," or, "I need that". I wonder if sometimes Heavenly Father feels like we're on one great big shopping trip and He is the parent that has to gently and firmly say no, not this time or please notice all that you DO have. Being human as I am it seems so easy to forget, sometimes, the abundance that we have been blessed with. Our lives are full to overflowing with everything we need to be happy [that's what I tell my kids at least].

Since it seems to be an issue with myself as well as Braden, in the future, I am going to try and remember that I do have e"nuff".