I Scream, You Scream, We all Scream for Ice Cream

I Scream, You Scream, We all Scream for Ice Cream

                The other day I had scheduled a play date for my seven-year-old.  The other mom had wanted to get together to chat, so we planned to meet at a local restaurant with a play area.  The kids could play, and we could chat.  Well, I must have had an early senior moment because I just thought I had scheduled the date.  I had scheduled it in my head while we were on vacation but was going to check the calendar when I got back.  I never sent her the final okay message.  So we show up, Ryan starts playing, and then I check my messages and realize we had never confirmed.   I sent her a message and we scheduled for later in the week.  After telling my son my mistake, I told him he could play for a while anyway.

                When we got in the van, Ryan told me he was very sad about missing out on the play date.  I assured him it would happen later in the week and apologized for the mix-up.  I then heard him say, “Maybe we could go to Braums or Pink Swirls.  Ice cream would make me feel better.”  I quickly said, “We don’t turn to food to make us feel better.”  When asked why, I said it wasn’t a healthy way to live.

                Ugh!
                Double Ugh!

                This was an issue that I’ve been struggling with most of my life!  And my son just made me state the truth!  Out loud!  Now what?  My son never forgets anything.  So I sure can’t use this as a reason to go anywhere with him again.   What’s going to happen the next time I’m sad, or mad, or feeling down?  I have often said to myself, “I deserve this.  It’s been a rough day, and I made it!  I deserve a reward!”  I’ve even done the reverse.  “I’m so happy; I’m going to celebrate with a ___!” (Fill that blank in with whatever my recent craving had been). 

                But now I have told my son that doing that isn’t the healthy way to deal with our emotions.  I shouldn’t tell him one thing and live another.  I don’t know when the next rough patch will hit or when I’m going to be beyond happy and feel I deserve a treat.  However, I do know that my son’s words will forever be in the back of my mind, and maybe, just maybe, I’ll turn to my family and friends for the encouragement, support, and praise that I need.