Three Things

1. When I was listing things I wouldn't be doing on my 50th birthday, I forgot to mention another one: Just as I was about to click "BUY" for tickets to see my beloved Avett Brothers a few days after my birthday, I checked the calendar one more time and realized that it's the same night as Julie's spelling bee. Which I missed last year because Pete and I had a meeting with the rabbi about his Bar Mitzvah. And which she won even though I wasn't there to see her! So, no, I can't miss the spelling bee, but apparently I can miss the Avett Brothers concert. Wah!

2. Grace has been very lonely (read: meowy) ever since we had to put Mr. Jones down, so we are in the market for a couple of kittens to keep her company! Unfortunately, the shelter doesn't have any now. The woman there told me that they rarely get them at this time of year, but from June to October they get 10–15 a day! So we will have to wait a little longer.

3. A few weeks ago I had a minor parenting dilemma involving Steph. I normally pay for all her "necessary" clothes, shoes, etc., as well as plenty of not-so-necessary items. But certain things I am not willing to buy, usually because they are either too junky or too expensive, and those have to come out of her own pocket. So she wanted these shoes that I deemed totally frivolous—they're pricey, flimsy, and covered in glitter that you just know is going to fall off (all over the house...). She decided that she really, really wanted them, so she saved up and bought them. The next day she wore them to school, locked them up in her gym locker, came back from gym, and found that they'd been stolen! She could see that the rest of her stuff had been rifled through, but nothing else was missing. She was devastated. And I was in a quandary. She hadn't been irresponsible in any way, so it was not her fault that they were gone (we still don't know how someone got into her locked locker, but it's not the first time we've heard of this). But on the other hand, I had already told her that there was no way I was paying $50 for sparkly slip-ons in the first place. What to do? I waited a week while she talked about saving up her money again for a new pair, and then I caved and told her I'd replace them for her. What would you have done?

Comments

[Wendy]

I'd have bought her another pair, too (even though I have to say, I think they're sort of ugly -- but keep that to yourself). You already stood on principle, and now you're simply offering solace after some creep did her a dirty. Anyhow, that's my 2 cents. And I hope she keeps her eyes on the feet of her fellow students.

Sorry about the Avetts. I am seeing them in June! Which I tell you not to rub it in, but to let you know that I understand the sacrifice.

[kate]

I think you did the right thing.

FYI - I have my own pair of red Toms. I don't think they are flimsy! They are really comfortable.

In the "wah" category - I have to be in Phoenix for work for Colleen's last homecoming as cheerleader and potentially as homecoming queen. Whom to let down? Double wah. (PS - is whom correct?)

[Sharon]

I probably would have replaced them also. She was diligent about saving up for the first pair and she wasn't careless. She sounds like a good kid.

[steve]

Likely, I'd have bought them for her in the first place - in five colors. And my daughter would probably be a-w-f-u-l.

Seriously, I think replacing them was a good thing. Let's her know that you have her back when the world acts ugly.

[steve]

..lets...

[Kim B]

Bummer about the shoes! I'd probably have replaced them- but I'd also have her change the lock/combination and tell her not to tell anybody the new combination!

[karen]

I'm catching up on my blog reading . . .
What I did was wait until the sister's bat mitzvah and told them I'd buy them each a pair of Tom's of their choice for the Sat night dinner (the big party was immediately following the service) and she wanted the wedges, but didn't like how they fit. She ended up with the pink sparkly ones. She's in heaven.

I'd end up replacing them.

K.