You're the Best Mommy There Ever Was

I don’t think I spoil my kids. I think I’m pretty even-handed when it concerns most things. Of course, I’m not perfect, and I do have areas in which I spoil but not rotten.

I love music. Did everyone get that memo? This is one area where I spoil my children.

I don’t spoil them with music lessons or fancy instruments. I strongly encouraged them both in that area. Perhaps I didn’t encourage enough or my kids just didn’t get their grandfather’s talent in that area; I know I didn’t.

Nathan played the trumpet for about nine minutes. I could tell early on that he was not a musician. He didn’t breathe it the way he inhaled Pokemon cards and his Game Cube.

As soon as Nathan seemed remotely interested in listening to music, I bought him an iPod. I don’t think it was for a special occasion. Okay, in my calendar it was; today is the day Nathan loves music!

Of course, music loving chick that I am, I had one of the first iPods. It was a pink Mini; are we surprised it was pink? We better not be.

Nathan started with a shuffle; however, he then graduated to a Nano. Actually, he went through two Nanos. Recently, his Nano died.

I asked him what happened to it. He said he hugged someone and dropped it. Wondering if he hugged Megan or Kelsey, I pushed my question limit (from one to two) on Nathan's personal life that day by asking, “Who were you hugging?” He said, “Donna wanted me to give her a hug when I saw her, and I dropped it on the floor.”

Donna was our hair stylist and a good family friend. At least, I confirmed something else. I would not be having grandchildren anytime in the near future – phew!

I told Nathan to give the Nano to me. I thought the protection plan I purchased was still in effect. I always buy the protection plan for any electronic item that will be used by any person under the age of 22; many of my life strategies haven’t worked so well, but this one always has.

Before I knew it, Nathan announced via Facebook that he purchased a new iTouch. Okay, I admit it. I was stalking him when I discovered that tidbit of information.

When I picked him up at his Dad’s one evening, he showed me his new iTouch. I thought he bought a new one. He bought it used from a friend for $150; he was disappointed because it was first generation and not in the condition described to him.

After some buyer’s remorse relayed to his friend, his friend offered to give him his money back. Nathan’s friend mentioned that unfortunately he spent Nathan’s money, so it would take him some time to refund the purchase price. Nathan, being a lover and not a fighter like his Mom, told his friend that he’d keep the iTouch.

Feeling Nathan’s disappointment, too, and having received a Best Buy gift card for Mother’s Day, what was I to do? Nathan had worked hard all Summer at his job, I now had a job, and I wanted to spoil my kid for being a wonderful guy and for not drinking, smoking, or doing drugs and for having no tattoos or odd piercings.

Impulsively, I went to Best Buy and bought him a new iTouch. When I got home, I walked into his room and said, “I have something for you.” I handed him the bag, he looked inside, and he asked, “What’s this for?” I answered, “Because you’re such a good guy.”

Nathan thanked me. I expected a bit more adoration; however, he was 17. Adoring your Mom when you’re 17 isn’t cool; and I think I need to have that tattoed on my forearm.

Meanwhile, Iz happened onto the music scene with a pink shuffle earlier this year. Unlike Nathan, I had a bit more hope for her in things musical. She didn’t show any interest in an instrument; however, she loved to sing and had a wonderful little voice so said her impartial mother.

I mentioned to her that we might be able to replace Nathan’s old iPod. Note to Self: Be careful what you mention to a seven-year-old. I said that she might inherit Nathan’s old-new Nano.

Of course, I knew it was an expensive item for someone her age; however, I thought she was ready for a responsibility challenge. She loved her Shuffle. Though I found it lying around the house in places it shouldn’t be, I knew she loved using it but met with frustration over its limitations like not being able to see a list of songs.

After you “mention” something to Iz, she turns into a ghost. That is, she haunts you. Every other hour I was asked, “When are you going to Best Buy to see if you can get a new iPod?” I told her sternly that this would occur sometime in the next week and that she was not to ask me again or she would have that Shuffle until she was 17!

Last night, I picked Iz up and told her we were going to take Nathan’s busted yellow Nano back to Best Buy. She squeaked with delight. She said, “So, I’m getting a new one.” I told her I wasn’t sure what they’d do for us and warned her not to get too excited; she squeaked again and squirmed in her seat. Obviously, my warning fell upon deaf ears.

Once at the store, we headed to Customer Service. I presented the Nano. The sales associate, who’s name was “Hooty” of all things, punched a thousand different things into the register, and five minutes later, he asked, “What color do you want?” Iz squeaked.

I turned to her. She looked up at Hooty and said, “Blue, please.” He said that he’d check if they had one in stock; they did, so he sent us to the back of the store to fetch it.

Iz practically skipped to the back of the store. I smiled, because she was so excited. I also mentally high-fived myself shouting, “Damn, it’s always good to get the protection plan!”

Once we bought a charger and matching blue ear buds, we headed home. I waited for the ghost in the backseat to haunt me again. Iz asked, “Mommy, when we get home, can you put music on it for me?”

I said I would after I took care of everything else like the trash, the pets, the school lunch, and the litter boxes. Mid-tasks, Iz asked, “Mommy, now?” I told her to wait patiently in the family room, and when I was done, I poured myself a glass of wine and said, “Ipod, Iz!”

She sprinted upstairs. It’s funny how she never beats me upstairs when I say “Tubbie time, Iz!“ or “Bedtime, Iz!” We plugged in her iPod and named it Izzy. As a treat, because this iPod didn’t cost me anything (okay, we know that is not true but we all lie to ourselves in some way), I bought her a movie, “Marmaduke.”

After the blue Izzy was good to go, she headed downstairs. As she sprinted down the steps, she said, “Mommy, you're the best Mommy there ever was. You’re greater than the moon and the stars and….” I said, “Thanks, Iz. Stop. Go watch your movie.”

The rest of the evening I was a Goddess to Iz, Anything I asked her to do was greeted with “Yes, Momma.” I had to laugh; I knew the window of adoration was small yet I wallowed in it.

In some ways, I had bought this adoration. In other ways, it was well worth the price of admission. I would savor it and remember it well for when she was 16 and thought me the most evil person in the universe for not letting her get her belly button pierced. ♥


Happy weekend. ♥