Big Shoes to Fill

Ross is an  I N C R E D I B L E  boy.
He’s independent, artistic, tender-hearted, hilarious, affectionate and has more common sense than a lot of adults I know.

BUT, he’s also a little FORGETFUL at times.
So, it was no surprise when, after we’d already been on the road a while to meet his Nana and Grandaddy for lunch, I hear him timidly ask from the backseat of the car, “Umm, Mom?  Did you get my shoes?”

Unfortunately, I have heard this same question SO many times, it didn’t even surprise me.
BUT, with school quickly approaching and added responsibilities, I knew it was my PLEASURE ‘parental duty‘ to give him a consequence that would help him be more responsible in the future.

So I did the UNTHINKABLE…
Remembering all the nickles and dimes he’d been rushing around the house collecting when he found out we were going to downtown Bentonville, I broke the news to him:

“Ross… You aren’t allowed to go into the 5 and Dime store without shoes on.  You’ll have to wait until the next time to buy candy.  I’m so sorry, buddy.”

{silence}

{crocodile tears}

Within 5 minutes of parking, Ross had already spotted his Grandaddy in the food-truck lines, ran up to him and turned those tears BACK on.

Before I knew it, Grandaddy was approaching our picnic table with amazing food and Ross was walking beside him with a BIG SMILE plastered on his little face.

AS ALWAYS, the Martin-men had devised a plan…