I took Jess and thank you to run an errand. I needed Jess to consult on some threads for the mermaid I am stitching for her. I wanted thank you to come so he wouldn't disturb husband's nap. I offered to let thank you go into Gamestop, and then we saw Claire's had a big sale. I let Jess go in there.
As a TRIAL I let thank you stay outside if the smell/noise in Claire's was a problem for him. First time I have done this. We were only in there 5 mins ON THE CLOCK. I actually set a timer because I at least wanted to check on thank you in 5 mins.
Nothing Jess decided to buy, so we left.
I walked out and thank you was in TEARS. I could NOT get him to tell me why. he just kept saying he didn't want to talk about it. (He is a sensitive child and cries easily, but still.)
I had Jess walk a bit away so she couldn't overhear us and he still wouldn't tell me. So we went home.
When we got home I had Jess go inside and told thank you he had to tell me what was going on. I insisted he tell me if he was touched inappropriately, hurt by someone, someone said something mean, etc...
He swore NONE of that happened.
Finally it came out that he had $$$ that he thought was missing.
THAT was SUCH a RELIEF that I could have cried. I spent a long time living in a big city and was SO SCARED that someone had hurt my baby.
I had him write down what he had purchased and how much it cost. I also told him we would watch all his pants pockets and see if we could find the $$. (And I explained this is WHY he has a jar to keep $$ in - to prevent this!)
Ladies, I cannot tell you how terrified I was when I walked out and saw him in tears and he would not talk to me. I probably will not be able to handle letting him stand outside a store alone for quite a while. I know he is 9, I know he is good about staying in a set area when given boundaries, but MY nerves cannot handle that again.
I will stay out WITH him next time, not watch through the glass windows of the store!
And I will have words with my father and my oldest son who have been telling him "real men don't show their feelings" and carp like that.
As a TRIAL I let thank you stay outside if the smell/noise in Claire's was a problem for him. First time I have done this. We were only in there 5 mins ON THE CLOCK. I actually set a timer because I at least wanted to check on thank you in 5 mins.
Nothing Jess decided to buy, so we left.
I walked out and thank you was in TEARS. I could NOT get him to tell me why. he just kept saying he didn't want to talk about it. (He is a sensitive child and cries easily, but still.)
I had Jess walk a bit away so she couldn't overhear us and he still wouldn't tell me. So we went home.
When we got home I had Jess go inside and told thank you he had to tell me what was going on. I insisted he tell me if he was touched inappropriately, hurt by someone, someone said something mean, etc...
He swore NONE of that happened.
Finally it came out that he had $$$ that he thought was missing.
THAT was SUCH a RELIEF that I could have cried. I spent a long time living in a big city and was SO SCARED that someone had hurt my baby.
I had him write down what he had purchased and how much it cost. I also told him we would watch all his pants pockets and see if we could find the $$. (And I explained this is WHY he has a jar to keep $$ in - to prevent this!)
Ladies, I cannot tell you how terrified I was when I walked out and saw him in tears and he would not talk to me. I probably will not be able to handle letting him stand outside a store alone for quite a while. I know he is 9, I know he is good about staying in a set area when given boundaries, but MY nerves cannot handle that again.
I will stay out WITH him next time, not watch through the glass windows of the store!
And I will have words with my father and my oldest son who have been telling him "real men don't show their feelings" and carp like that.