The Forty-Two Dollar Tank Top

It's been a crazy week and today was no exception. While Eric worked on putting an office in our garage I took the kids off to "Fashion Island" in Newport Beach. Though I don't exactly have the purse strings (or much in the way of fashion sense) to shop at Fashion Island it is a wonderful place to take the kids. Maggie particularly enjoys the Koy fish at the Koy pond and the variety of water displays not to mention the carousel.

To spare you the details of what it takes to get a seven month old and a three and half year old on any kind of outing, I'll give you one little highlight. The Forty-Two Dollar Tank Top.

The Forty-To Dollar Tank Top was a bright sunshine yellow and oh so soft. It had delicate black edging and a wonderful picture of a tall and slinky Siamese looking cat sitting with his nose in the air. Bordered around the picture were the printed words, "I'm trouble" or something to that effect. Maggie picked it off the racks and instantly fell in love with it. The fact that Maggie showed an interest in it was quite surprising as she's not your girly girl and is usually easily amused with her own repertoire of imaginary animals.

I casually checked out the price tag. Yes, someone out there came out with the brilliant and profitable idea of charging forty-two dollars for a yellow tank top that would only fit a very slender three footer whose favorite pastime is imitating animals, blowing bubbles and eating pancakes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I admired the tee-shirt with Maggie and lightly discussed the wonderful color yellow and the adorable picture of the cat. Maggie requests a "try on " and I decline. There's an outburst of protest from Maggie.

Maggie must have really loved the tank top. She let me and the whole store know it too.

Maggie: No. I don't want to give it back to you.
Me: Why Maggie?
Maggie: Because I want to try it on. I don't want you to put it back.
Me: Maggie that's a lovely tank top but we're not buying it. It's forty- two dollars. We can buy five tank tops for this yellow one.
Maggie:(pause and thoughtful expression) But I want to try it on.
Me: Maggie, I can see you like that tank top very much but it's time to put it back.
Maggie: No I don't want to (who then sits on it, falling into the even more expensive rack of dresses behind her).

Thankfully, I manage to keep my resolve. Ryan obligingly sat in his peanut shell sling, checking out the bright lights of the store, while I persuaded Maggie to hand over the tank top by suggesting we take a look at the bunny-rabits in the next store -- but not before she apologized for behavior to the store's owner. When I saw Maggie approach the lady and give a sincere apology for screaming in her store I felt a valuable lesson had been learned by both of us. I reaped the reward of remaining calm and not being affected by the other customers (aka other parents)and Maggie learned how a forty-two-dollar tank top is just not worth the drama.