"The Rules Apply to You"

One thing we have been struggling on with John lately is his pushback towards us when we tell him no. He just wants "one more minute" or "I just want to look in there" or "I just want to tell her one more thing," etc. It is as if he thinks that as long as he isn't doing any harm, then it is okay to not listen to us and continue to do what he wants to do. I find myself telling him "the rules apply to you," meaning, he is not above the law. For example, when we are leaving the gym he likes to stop by the owner's office because he has pictures of the Blue Angels in there. One day the owner wasn't in his office so I told John he couldn't go in there. John replies that he just wants to look at the pictures, but I tell him no, the rules apply to everyone including him. He can not go in someone's office if they aren't there, even if he doesn't want to do any harm.

So where am I going with this story? Well yesterday I was dropping off some things to sell at a local consignment sale. I love this sale as I have gotten some great toys and clothes for pretty cheap. I like to consign because then I get to shop at the presale. You have to have a minimum of 10 things to be a consigner. I show up with the bare minimum because I am not trying to get rid of stuff (we are on the fence if we want to have another kid so I am keeping everything for now) I just want to shop the presale. I showed up at the venue to drop things off, and it was a mad house! Way more crowded then the last time I was there for the drop-off, and this time  everyone who wanted to sell clothes had to wait in a very long line to get their clothes checked before they could put them on the racks. Most people in line had (no joke) shopping carts and laundry baskets full of clothes to sell. I had two t-shirts and one pair of pants. I put out my other seven or so items on the toys table, and then I looked at the line which had gotten even longer. I thought I would just leave and not sell the clothes because I didn't want to wait in that long line, but then I worried they wouldn't let me into the presale if I didn't have my ten items to consign. Then I remembered that one of my friends from Bunco was a volunteer at this sale. I found her and asked if she would just put my three clothing items on the rack so I didn't have to wait. She hesistated at first but then said okay. I thanked her and walked away. As I was leaving I heard the phrase in my head, "the rules apply to you." I felt bad! I had just completely jumped the line. I tried to rationalize my choice by saying I only had a few items and no one would have cared, but I knew I wasn't setting a good example. I should have just trusted God that I would get let into the presale and left with my silly three clothing items. Oh well. I have learned. And I confessed to God but I feel like I need to confess to the blog world as well!!


Cheers!