{Accidental} Five Finger Discount

Have you ever been out and become distracted (by kids, a wandering mind, or just your surroundings) and ended up accidently breaking the law? You know, like driving along and suddenly noticing you’re going 20 over the speed limit? Or following the car behind you, not realizing that you just ran a red light? I think everyone has done something like that at least once in their lives. But what about something a bit more serious. Like shoplifting. Not intentional shoplifting, more like… shoplifting by distraction. Yup, I’ve done it. More than once, actually. I have left a store with something in (or under) my cart and not paid for it. The big question is, What did I do about it? Did I: a) Go back to explain the mistake and pay for the item? Or b) Just let it go, not wanting to explain or bother? Well, the answer is B. Go ahead and judge.

The times that this has happened to me were very innocent mistakes. On more than one occasion, I have forgotten about a case of Pepsi on the tray underneath my shopping cart. I was already at the car when I realized it, with two kids and a cart full of groceries. I did feel a bit badly about it, but not bad enough to actually trek back into the store and pay for it! Another time at Wal-Mart, Hubby and I chose a new clock and put it on that bottom rack of the cart. Oops. Another forgotten item. We didn’t realize until we got to the car. It was busy, we had tired and cranky kids. It just didn’t seem worth my time to go back, although I know it is the Right Thing to Do. Does that make me a bad person? Honestly, I don’t really think so.

I am an honest person. If I was walking down the street and saw someone drop money or their wallet, I certainly wouldn’t keep it. I would flag them down and give it back to them. If a cashier handed me back the wrong amount of change, I would point it out. Even if I noticed the Pepsi under my cart before I left the store, I would go back and pay for it. I don’t mean to steal, but it happens sometimes.


Has this ever happened to you?
If so, have you gone back to pay for it or did you just keep it?
Do you think I’m a horrible person?
(Please tell me I’m not the only one who has done this!)

My Booger Sweater

It was a wet, chilly morning yesterday and I felt a cold coming on so I decided to wear a warm, cozy sweater to work.  It's a soft, mossy-green color and it fits nicely.  I bought it last year at the end of the season and hadn't had much of a chance to wear it yet.  Miss M obviously didn't remember it at all.

I went in her room to wake her up and flicked on the light.  After a few seconds of cuddling and back-rubbing, she finally opened her eyes.  She glanced at me.  At my sweater.  Then she sat up straight and said, Your sweater is ugly.  Just like that.  Huh!  I asked why she thought it was so ugly.  She said, I don't know, I just don't like the color.  I said, That's fine, Sweety.  But I like it and I'm going to wear it to work today.

Okay, Mommy, she said, looking for something positive to say.  Then she had it.  Well, at least you can pick your nose and wipe your boogers on your sweater and no one will see them!

Great.  I wore a booger shirt.

I'm still here!

So, I've been super-busy with back-to-school hectic-ness and work has been a lot more demanding lately, too.  I haven't had a chance to write in this space in a very long time.  Actually, I have been considering giving it up altogether.  But I'm not ready for that yet.  I'm not much of a writer, but I like to come here to share little stories of my life.  Things that are going on, things that I think about.  I guess I'll just continue to write when I can for now anyway.

All this busyness has made me realize how much guilt I feel on a daily basis.  Why do we, as women (parents? mothers?)  always feel guily about something!?

I can't read blogs at work because I feel guilty about not doing actual work.

I can't blog at home because I feel guilty about not doing housework (or helping with homework, or making lunches, or giving baths, spending time with Hubby, or missing my favorite TV show!).

If I read a blog on the fly (i.e. on my phone) I feel guilty if I don't get the chance to go back and comment.

I don't want to go to French class tomorrow morning because I have a lot of deadlines at work and I'll feel guilty if I don't start working on them right away.

If I go to work and miss French class, I'll feel guilty because I've already missed a couple of classes and my work pays for them!

If I feel like being lazy but Hubby is doing laundry I feel guilty just sitting there so I usually drag my butt up to do something.  Even if I've already cooked dinner/cleaned the kitchen/etc.  (this is my own guilt.  Hubby doesn't do or say anything to make me feel bad about it).

I am tired of being a baseball family.  It's October and there are still at least two more full weekends of baseball.  Meaning four games per weekend, with at least one day out of town.  I wish that it will rain like crazy this weekend so it will be cancelled, but then I feel guilty because I know my son loves it and I want to support him.

I haven't visited my parents much lately.  Mostly because of all this baseball.  I feel guilty about that, too.  I want to, but I just don't have the time lately.  Soon I hope.

Those are just a few of the many reasons why I feel guilty lately.  It sucks.  I need to stop worrying and just do what I can.  I know this, but yet it never seems to help at the time.  But here I am, writing away while Miss M sleeps and Hubby and J are downstairs watching baseball.  It's nice to sit in the quiet and just write.  But there is still a tad bit of guilt as I sit here.  Well, I guess I'll stop now and go do something.  Like maybe just go to bed.  I'm exhausted!