We went to gymnastics this morning and Gigi behaved.  It's hard to behave in gymnastics because there are two teachers and 11 two year olds in a room full of things to jump, dance, and play on.  It's always an exercise in temptation for Gigi to behave, sit on her spot and wait her turn with so many trampolines and balance beams in the room.  But she did wonderful and we left on our next errand.

We stopped to see Norita and friends at the old workplace.  Gigi behaved - at least, I think she did.  Norita and the office staff may think differently, but there were no fires set and no meltdowns.  We said goodbye and I decided to hit up the bookstore there on campus for a new book I've been dying to get my hands on.

This is where common sense should have kicked in, but you know me and common sense...  We're not on speaking terms all of the time.  Logically I should have realized we only have so many "good choices" in a two year old each day. 

It's rough being two - think about it from her perspective, you know, take a walk in her size 6 crocs: She's been up for six hours, she's eaten a muffin, she went to gymnastics, she's been in an office and had a piece of candy.  She's hungry, it's naptime, and she's done everything she can to be a good girl all morning.  But then, Mommy decides "It's on the way home" and swings into the bookstore.  That means she's going to have to behave some more and wait longer for that lunch and naptime.  She followed me in the store, mentioning to me that she would like to eat and then take a nap.  I told her "That's nice."  She looked at me. 

Sometimes I know she looks at me and wants to say something like "You gotta ask yourself, do you feel lucky?  Well, do you Mommy?  Do you feel lucky?"  But she hasn't seen Dirty Harry yet, so I don't know if she'd use that exact line.  But Mommy was feeling lucky.  It's just that in the game of Hungry versus Lucky, Hungry is going to win out. 

I found my book and then flipped through some others.  I should mention this is a Christian bookstore.  Gigi looked around and asked what was in the boxes. 

"Communion wafers."  I said.

"Wafers?"  She eyed the box.  "Nilla Wafers?"  She inched closer to them.

"No.  Not Nilla Wafers.  Communion wafers.  You know, for Lord's Supper." 

"I'm hungry Mommy."

"Just a minute." 

I walked us to the check out register.  Christian bookstores are like grocery stores in that the register has candy in front of it.  And Gigi decided she needed a piece of candy.  She picked one up and headed for the door.

"No."  I said.  The lady and I were messing with the card reader that decided right then and there to quit working.  And for some reason the register I was at couldn't take cash.  Really?  Cash is universal, I thought.

"I'm hungry!  This is my candy!"

I want to point out that if you're going to get a piece of candy, a piece of candy with a Bible verse or Christian symbol on it is probably not the way to go.  I think, if I'm honest, more has gone into getting the verse or symbol on the candy and less attention has been placed on the yummy factor of the candy.  It was overpriced (sorry) and probably not very good tasting (sorry, again).  It wasn't, you know, a Snickers bar or something worth throwing a fit over in the Christian bookstore.  But Gigi had a perfect storm brewing - two years old, tired, and hungry.  She started to throw the fit.  The woman behind the register started praying the card reader would just work already so we could leave and quiet and serenity could return to the Christian book world.

"Gigi, I said no."

"I said yes."

"I need you to put that candy up.  Right now.  No candy."

"It's MINE!"

I started to tell her that if one is going to shoplift candy it should never be candy with a Bible verse stamped on it from a Christian bookstore.  That's just wrong on a lot of levels.

I pried the candy out of her hand and smiled at the lady.  I saw her eyes glance over my book - I know she was thinking I needed to turn my rear end around, put my book choice up and get one on parenting.  That's the great thing about having a two year old, smiling while your kid is throwing a fit because you know everyone else has an opinion on how to deal with the situation - the reality of it is I know a secret.  No one deals with a tantrum while exhibiting serenity and finesse.  No one.  Once the tantrum is a go, you might as well go along with life and smile at those around you.  It's one of those things that will pass, and you just have to wait it out.  Sort of like riding out a tornado in your bathtub.

Finally I was able to pay.  I want to point out that I had been offering cash payment for 10 minutes, but that register doesn't take cash.  I suggested that was funny, since it is called a "Cash Register" - the lady wasn't in a laughing mood.  I was.  I giggled while Gigi sobbed on the floor.  I looked at her.

"Don't look at me!"  She yelled.

"Ok."  I smiled.

I picked up the bag with the purchased book in it and turned to leave.  Without looking at her I reached out my hand to the insubordinate, tired, hungry child lying on the floor.  She stopped yelling. 

"Mommy?"  She was still sobbing.  "Will you hold me please?  I need to be held."

I hugged her close and she hugged back.  Some people, I'm sure, have children who don't throw fits or who obey all of the time.  I'm sure that's great.  But God didn't give me kids with that kind of personality.  He chose the kids I have specially for me.  And that's why, even when she's throwing a fit about some nasty, overpriced candy in the Christian bookstore I can smile at her and think with a huge sense of pride, "She's mine".

Later, at home, we shared a cookie and snuggled for her nap.

"I love you Mommy."  She said and closed her eyes. 

She's Mine.