Shopping with Sons

As a standard rule of thumb, our sons do not go shopping, do not want to go shopping and the mere mention of the ever dreaded "S-word" results in eyes rolling, immediate loss of speech and finally, the cosmic "deer in the headlights" stares.  Unless, of course, we're going to Academy Sports......when suddenly, we're all shoppers.

Such was the case yesterday.

Son #1 (our 14 yr old), is an avid fisherman and believes that the entire world of invented and created tackle, especially all those advertised and touted as the latest and greatest on every fishing show on the Outdoor Channel, should be in his possession and readily available at his swivel fingertips in his one and only little tackle box.

Have you priced fishing tackle lately?  What happened to live bait?  Is there something wrong with worm guts anymore?

I believe I'll be compelled to jump in after the fish that took my son's $6.00 rattle trap, broken bodied, Booyah bait of the week.

Conversation just before checking out:

Son #1:  “.....Well, there are some more lures I want, but I don’t know if you’ll let me get that many more.”

Mom – upon looking in Son #1’s shopping basket:  “I’m not so sure you’ll be buying all those that are already in your basket.  How many fishing lures does a 14 yr old really need?”

Son #2:  “You mean, fishing lures to lose to the fish (wicked snickering)….”

Son #1 (voicing rising and becoming somewhat hysterical):  “Mommmmm, I neeeeeed these lures especially if we’re going to the lake for my birthday.  I can’t be casting pond size lures in a 200 acre lake.  Come oooooon……”

Mom:  It was finally my turn to give the deer in headlights stare.

In the blink of an eye, he had $60.00 worth of tackle and not even a third of his little basket was full...........Needless to say, the new check out gal had a first hand lesson about voiding items not being purchased...........

While the fisherman son was sulking over lure withdrawals, I had Son #2 (our 13 yr old) with me and we headed for the shoe department.  Naturally as fate would have it, we hit the $150.00 and up isle and immediately, our youngest son began to drool and foam at the mouth.  I managed to navigate him a-w-a-y  from this isle and around to an isle where we could at least still afford groceries having bought a new pair of Nike's.  We easily agreed on a pair he liked on the eat for a week shoe isle as Son #1 walked up.

Son #1:  “I didn’t know we were actually buying shoes today.”

Son #2:  “Why did you think we went to the shoe department?”

Mom:  “Are you ready to look at shoes now or are you still shopping tackle?”

Son #1:  No response.

Mom:  "I saw a pair of New Balance in the style and color you like.  Come on, you need to try them own."

Mom and Son #2 both look down at Son #1's shoes/feet.

Mom:  “Oh, honey, you didn’t wear any socks.  You can’t try on shoes today.”

Son #1 (looking over at his brother’s feet):  “Let me borrow your socks….”

Son #2:  “Are you crazy?  I’m not letting you put on my socks, they’ll burst into flames!”

Fishing tackle after selection reduction:  $37.00.

One pair of Nike sneakers:  $49.95.

Dinner this week:  Grilled Cheese s/w's and leftovers.

Honest, brotherly love:  Priceless.

hkj

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