Soapbox

May 26th 1992

So I’ve got this kid… and he decided he wanted to do something special for his mom and dad. How cute. He also felt that at the ripe old age of going-on-5, he was quite grown up. Uh-oh.

So one night, he decided to go to Donatos and get us all a pizza. He remembered where it was, and knew it was within walking distance. I’ve got to hand it to him; for a 4 year old, he planned pretty well. He took a jacket, because it was cool that evening, and a flashlight because it was after dark. No doubt feeling quite pleased about how wonderful his surprise was going to be, he quietly slipped out the front door.
Cut to me, watching TV downstairs. Suddenly lifting my head like a dog scenting something on the wind, I said, “Ted- where is Stephen?”
“He was up in his room a few minutes ago.” In response to that mysterious mom-sense that sometimes manifests itself, I refused to be satisfied with that answer and got up to check.

I knew the minute I walked upstairs that he was not in the house, even though he often plays quietly for a long time. I checked each room anyway and then ran outside calling for him franticly.
From up the street I heard a sobbing response, “Mommy?” Through the dark trudges my small boy, clutching his flashlight, crying with disappointment because he hadn’t been able to get a pizza after all. He got as far as the end of the street and around the corner before he realized that he would have to cross a busy street to get to the pizza shop, and that Mommy doesn’t let him cross by himself.( He also didn’t have any money with him, but since he never made it to the pizza shop, he never realized that.)
I hugged him, weak with relief, and soothed him and praised him for remembering not to cross the street. Then I reminded him that he shouldn’t be outside after dark without a parent, and took him inside.

He was bitterly disappointed, however, that his lovely surprise hadn’t worked out. The next day I tried to help him, so I ordered a pizza and let him go in to pick it up. He went up to the counter (which he couldn’t see over) and told the curious girl behind the register, “I’m here to pick up a pizza for the Meiskys.” but she didn’t understand and gave him a tag with a number and told him to wait. I poked my head in to see how it was going, and found him standing there looking frustrated and confused, alone at the counter.
I ended up getting the pizza and letting him be the one to pay for it. It wasn’t what he had wanted, but it turned out to be the best we could do.

It’s so HARD to grow up!