Fancy store funny.

I try really, really hard NOT to take my boys shopping with me. I just want to avoid the running through the clothes racks, the touching of the sunglasses stand, the deep sighs, and the "are you done yet?" whines. You know what I mean, right? Well, a few weeks ago, I really had no choice. I took my boys to a fancy store to buy them a suit for a relative's wedding. I gave them the pre-shopping lecture in the car. I needed best behavior, good manners, and patience. They were going to get their suits tailored and look like gentlemen like Papa. If they cooperated, we would be out of there in no time.

While we were in the fitting room, my boys behaved so great. The seamstress began taking measurements, they stood still and were patient. But just as we were wrapping up, my 6 year-old, Marcelo, felt the need to celebrate. He had a toy in his pocket - a red, rubbery stick figure with sticky hands and feet. The idea is to throw the guy around and see where he sticks.

In no time, the sticky guy was on the ceiling of the fancy store's fitting room. Thank goodness, nobody was in the fitting rooms. My 8 year-old, George, found me a chair and spotted me as I fought my vertigo and slapped the toy with my shoe to get it down from the ceiling.

While my first instinct was to lecture, do the angry voice, and grab the arm, I decided to not get so angry. I decided to let go a bit and enjoy the moment. Here I was at a fancy store, standing barefoot on a chair, swatting the air with my shoe with my boys giggling like they were watching The 3 Stooges. As soon as I decided to let it go, we truly had a few minutes of a great memory!

Marcelo got a quick lecture about making good choices at a store. I asked him to put it away and he listened. While we were making our purchases, Marcelo decided to tell our salesperson the story. But telling wasn't enough, he needed a demonstration. Within seconds, the darn toy was on the ceiling of the children's department of the fancy store (check out the picture I took!). I was pretty mortified, but enjoyed every second of it as well - crazy, huh?

As I walked out of the store, I realized I don't need my children to be perfect. In fact, I don't want them to be. I love the fact that they can be mischievous. They are respectful and polite, but at the end of the day, they are kids. And we need to let go every so often.

Have you let go lately?