Chocolate Meltdown

Clearly, this is a visual of my bad parenting and I should be hiding these photos, not sharing them. But I continue to laugh so intensely at these photos, weeks even, after the event.



We went grocery shopping. I wanted a quick, in-and-out trip with no shenanigans from the chilluns, so I told Madeleine that she could have that 39 cent chocolate Easter egg that she picked up right when we entered, if she promised to be helpful and quiet. And she was. She was a grocery-shopping star child. I was so happy. And indeed, we were in and out in 40 mintues!! I was singing and doing a happy-dance the whole way home.
Madeleine, on the other hand, fell asleep. In the car. After two bites of that chocolate egg. I didn't notice until 2 lights before we got home because I was in a euphoric post-quick-trip happy-dance at the wheel and she was so saintly quiet that I just didn't think to turn around and disturb her. But when I finally DID turn around, there she was, asleep with chocolate everywhere.

This is one of those parenting moments when I am congnizant of how my reaction will make me feel hours afterwards. I decided, hey, yes, it's a mess and it sucks, but really, I can choose to see the mirth in the situation and know that it's a one time deal that I will hopefully not have to relive. It's funny.

So, I got home, woke her up. Took the pictures. Laughed and laughed and laughed at her dazed and confused sweet mess of a face, hands, and pants. I mean, she looks SO utterly blindsided in these photos. She's still half asleep and yet in total shock at the chocolate. And luckily, my reaction fueled her reaction. Not a sad, whiny meltdown at being woken up or dirty, but a shy smile and response of, "I fell asleep with my egg." Yes. Yes you did, my dear. Heaven help you at Easter.