Now I must say my kids are pretty well-behaved in stores for the most part. They don’t throw complete temper tantrums. Occasionally a few tears are shed and their piercing looks can bore a hole through my heart. However, when they want something they just don’t shut up about it…especially my oldest. “Mom, I know you’re not going to want to hear this but I really like that stuffed animal parrot. I just don’t have a parrot like that. I really wish I could have that parrot. I have money in my piggy-bank. Oh, look how cute he is. I can’t stop thinking about that parrot…you know the one. I know I have a parrot with red feathers, but that one is blue.” Sigh. Sigh again. “Mom, did you see that cute blue parrot?” It takes all of my mommy super powers to not say, “SHUT. THE. HELL. UP!”

Another issue we have is that when we do have the pleasure of getting something…they’re not satisfied; there is already something else they want. Take the white alligator for instance. Logan begged and begged for a white alligator stuffed animal. He scoured the internet to find the perfect one and paid for it with his own money. Lets just say that he has two other alligator stuffed animals already…but they’re not white. The alligator arrives, it is covetted for two days and then we’re obsessing about getting a stuffed rattle snake, “The real kind with their poison removed Mom.”

The lovely Gimmies. The gimmies have gotten progressively worse over the past few weeks. There is always something and they are never satisfied. It was time to break out the book, The Berenstain Bears Get the Gimmies. I find the need to break this one out every once in a while to remind them how to behave in the store and to be grateful for what they do have. The cubs “embarrassing” and “ungrateful” behavior leaves Mama and Papa very upset, but with the help of Gramps and Gran they come to a resolution. It’s funny, every time I read this story and look at Logan he looks back and says, “Hey, don’t look at me! I don’t know what you’re talking about.” with a big grin. He knows exactly what we’re trying to explain. He understands the message of the book. Then he starts using the word “appreciate” for a week. “Mom, I really appreciate you taking us to the park…I just wish we could have gone to the one at Gram’s work.” Grr.

So if any of you parents out there are having problems with the want-wants…give this book a try. It’s great to keep on the bookself for a reminder every once in a while.