Friday, November 8, 2013

Shaming Mommy and Daddy?

The other day we were at a restaurant with Dexter and he asked if he could order chocolate milk (damn those kids' menus that have pictures!). He had been good all day so we let him get chocolate milk. Towards the end of our meal, Dex turned around in his chair to a family sitting at a table behind us and announced, "My name is Dexter. I'm four years old, almost five. This is the first time I have had chocolate milk at a restaurant."  The parents cracked up and Ben and I turned bright red. I was shocked at how ashamed I felt, like we had been depriving Dex of something all his life! Even though Dexter's tone wasn't accusatory (it was a matter of fact announcement) and even though I feel glad that we don't get him chocolate milk at restaurants, it still felt a little like he was publicly shaming us.