Shopping on Steroids (Zander's Day Out)
It's been our tradition since a memorable December when a store manager didn't understand 6 kids in a store with presents under their coats....for me to take each child out for a special shopping day. Less traumatic for the store manager, the children and ME. They buy ALL their presents on that day and then pick a spot for lunch. Mike took Nolan out on Saturday. Arielle and I went out Sunday afternoon. I owe her a food treat of her choice sometime, somewhere.
The highlight of Monday was my shopping day with Zander. I didn't think I needed to take him out for much. I'd put his name along with Stacia's on quite a few gifts. I hadn't reckoned with his love language. My bad. Months ago I was concerned that Zander seemed to try to sneak things in stores. One day, in tears, he explained that every time he asked if he could buy Dad or Mom something I said no. Mike and I talked and realized that his love language is giving and that we were not making way for it.....he gives us lots of little things all the time (pictures, Lego masterpieces, old toys) but we've both been sure to stop and buy flowers for Mom when he suggests it and he's quit trying to sneak things from stores. I should have put the two together. OF COURSE he would want to pick out HIS OWN gift for each person.
It was a joy to watch him. He knew EXACTLY what each person needed - from a glittery purse for Stacia to (well now, I can't share because all his other recipients read the blog) - but he picked out some great gifts.
Here's the kicker...we entered Wal-mart at 10:15....we were in the check out line at 10:45. ::snort:: Shopping on Steroids.
There were so many zingers from Zander today but here's my favorite....as he tore around Wal-mart, "Good grief! There are so many toys in this store I can't figure out what I want for Christmas." I assured him not to worry about that - that would be the worry of others.
He picked McDonald's for lunch as we "never" eat there. He's right. I evaluated all the salads around town last year, so I won't do that now. I DID pick up 11 free tickets to a showing of It's a Wonderful Life at the City Auditorium....
I don't know WHY but it took him a good 10 minutes to try to stack these in a way that he could carry them all at once. It had to be "just right" - just one of the things that make Zander - Zander....obsessing over small facts.
Job well done, Son!
14 comments:
Sis:
That's our boy! So glad he has/is/will continue to learn how to do in this crazy world of ours. It warms my heart to see how good you/Mike are with him and his growing up. HUMMM, he sounds like one of his G'Ma when it comes to stacking things just right so all can be moved from one place to another at one time etc.
Anxious to hear what all the kids got for each other.
Giving is so much fun...... you use to give all kinds of stuff here/there when you were young but for sure and absolutely TEACHING has always been you thing. Jamie still talkes about it sometimes. :):):)
Seeing Bre last night at the Mall for awhile helped ease my hurting heart to squeeze your 9 and you/Mike. love/prayers Mom T
You saw MY BRE BABY!!!!! I'm so glad. We are really wishing you were coming out this year. We'll miss you! Maybe next year in.....who knows.
Goodness Bre and David will be here in 3 days!
...and Mom thanks for being so supportive of our care of Zander. Most don't understand all we are dealing with in raising him. It means a lot to hear that you think we're doing something right with him. LOL
Fantastic job! Wow, speed shopping. He and Brian would get along great...he races through stores.
I think you and Mike rock with how you are raising Zander...and all the children. You meet each of their needs right where they need it. I have to admit to struggling terrible with that right now.
I like Alexander's idea of speed shopping. Know what you want, get in, get out and get on with life!
I also respect his need to organize, stack and accomplish as much at one time as possible; the seeds of organized time management. It's a trait that I think reflects our God, for He is a God of order, not chaos. You're doing great De'Etta.
{{Debbie}} - hugs and prayers from another mom in the trenches.
Darshia - your perspective always blesses me - thanks for sharing. You are right - God has used my obsesssions for the kingdom and He'll do the same with each of our children.
Thanks for sharing so much of your life, De'Etta. It has helped me gain perspective on what I need to do with my own kiddos. I love the idea of taking each child shopping. My plan was to try to do with this all the boys at the same time. I like the special day of it instead...although I'm running out of days! ;-)
Thanks for sharing so much of your life, De'Etta. It has helped me gain perspective on what I need to do with my own kiddos. I love the idea of taking each child shopping. My plan was to try to do with this all the boys at the same time. I like the special day of it instead...although I'm running out of days! ;-)
Thanks for sharing so much of your life, De'Etta. It has helped me gain perspective on what I need to do with my own kiddos. I love the idea of taking each child shopping. My plan was to try to do with this all the boys at the same time. I like the special day of it instead...although I'm running out of days! ;-)
Wow, D'Etta,
You are a brave woman... I think that's more shopping than I could manage, but way to go recognizing Zander's 'love language'. I have one like that too :0)
And another with some similar challenges to Zander's. It's so encouraging to read about the way you relate to him. I find it it hard to walk the fine line, parenting him, between accommodating what he needs and "enabling". (That's not a sideways insult, by the way! Just my own struggle.)
Merry Christmas,
Julie in the PNW... where it is snowing like crazy!
Love it, love it! Gift giving is my love language as well. I've almost tired myself out of it, though, if that makes any sense at all.
Great job!! The kids do like to pick out their own presents to give....
Lisa - than YOU for being a great cyber friend.
Julie - no offense taken - I DO understand what you mean. Sometimes we error to far in expecting things that are out of his realm of producing and sometimes we error too far in ignoring what should be dealt with - the key is for each parent to pray about how to parent each child and then do their best to follow that path....and most the time we'll be somewhere in the middle. LOL
Linda - I understand.
Cindy - Yes, the do. When the are young I like to pick for them as I take older ones out...but there does come a point when that won't work well. I always let them buy stocking stuffers at the Dollar store....we always get tons of little plastic dinosaurs in our stockings. LOL
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