Good Mom, Bad Mom

We needed to get out of the house this morning, so I took the kids to the mall to let Lucy run around and burn some energy and to keep Joey entertained by watching the change of scenery.

As we were leaving the mall I made a startling new discovery: Ben & Jerry's has a new kiosk in the Food Court! I've been spending the last 8 years in a B&J-less state, and suddenly a myriad of delectable flavors were staring me in the face. It was only 11:15, and we hadn't eaten lunch, so I groaned loudly and walked on by, trying to ignore the gush of saliva being produced in my mouth. I couldn't believe I was passing this place up!

A few steps farther, I turned around. I asked the kid what the smallest possible cup was and he pulled out a kiddie cup and told me it was $1.99. Ugh.

"Chunky Monkey," I blurted out. It bypassed that filter part of my brain that is supposed to think before I speak.

Lucy spoke what the rational part of me was thinking: "Mommy, why are we having ice cream before we have lunch?"

I've trained her well. I told her it was a very special treat, and she had to promise me to still eat all her lunch when we got home. Plus, I figured that the huge chunks of nuts were providing us with protein, not to mention calcium in the ice cream... Yes, even I can rationalize having ice cream before lunch.

For a few moments I felt like a hero, the Good Mom saying yes to this whimsical desire. But I certainly felt like the Bad Mom as I became aware of the tables around us, filled with other families whose kids were eating their nutritious lunches now all staring at us in jealousy and wonder as we ate our ice cream at 11:15 in the morning.