YOU WILL LOVE ME LATER

YOU WILL LOVE ME LATER

My wife was cooking duck with roast potatoes for supper but soon realized that we ran out of potatoes, so she called me on my cell phone asking me to buy some on my way home from work.  A 
u-turn and a two minute detour later, I arrived at the shopping mall. It took me longer to find a parking space than it took me to get there. Anyway, it seemed like everyone who owned a car was there. Either they come to have supper at one of the restaurants in the mall or were also running last minute errand, like I was. Moments later I found myself zigzagging through the aisles on the lookout for anything that we may have run out of, that I may notice on the shelves.  As I made my way down the toys aisle, I heard crying even  before I saw the  4-5 year-old little girl sitting on the floor in the isle with a doll in her hands, with tears running down her cheeks. 

Her dad was sitting on his haunches beside her, with shopping basket in hand. He was talking to her in a soft and gentle voice. Seriously, it's not my habit to listen to other people's conversations in supermarkets but I couldn't help overhearing their exchange. Dad was explaining to his daughter that at that moment in time he couldn't afford to buy her the doll because the food stuff in their basket takes priority over toys but as soon as he saves enough money, he will definitely buy her the doll. This didn't go down to well with little daughter who loudly exclaimed "I hate you, I hate you".  In the same calm and gentle voice as he spoke to her previously he replied, 

"That's OK my sweety, you will love me later". 

I thought that was very profound. Dads are generally not known to be very tactful but this dad was an absolute scholar and a gentleman for the way he handled the situation.

I've seen similar scenarios play out a few times before in supermarkets and shopping malls, where mothers spanked their kids right there for throwing a tantrum, or for insisting on a toy that she couldn't afford or just wasn't willing to buy. I've seen parents shout at their kids for lying on the floor of the aisles kicking and screaming and embarrass themselves and their parents as the other shoppers attention was directed at then for the raucous they made.  I suppose everyone  raise their children differently. That being said, I sincerely believe in “To each his own”.

Meanwhile I looked at the Dad and felt inclined to offer to  pay for the doll, but it may seem like I’m rubbing his nose in it, that he is failing as a dad. He may consider it a slap in his face. And that was definitely not my intention. Also it would be telling that I was listening to his conversation, and I certainly couldn’t have that. Alternatively, I would upset the lesson of patience and perseverance he was trying to teach his daughter. So I just walked away, with my mind milling over “super dad”.  As I pulled into the driveway at home, my wife was standing in the doorway, smiled at me and said, “Where’s the potatoes”? I had bought countless of other grocery items but I completely forgot about the potatoes.