Spilled Coffee & That’s the Way it Should Be
The other day I was a bit overloaded with deadlines piled one on top of the other. For those of you who don’t know, I have the privilege to work from home. While I have one of the best kids on the face of the planet (I truly do), he is still a baby and all boy at that. So this one particular day I had a red bull, water glass and cup of coffee (with vanilla creamer) sitting on the side coffee table.
My darling little one was going straight for these things, as I saw it coming I grabbed the empty red bull can and water glass to take into the kitchen. Pulling Christopher with me I left the coffee glass knowing I was going right back and really wanted to finish it and Christopher was going down for his nap anyway…. while in the kitchen my eye caught his water cup so I gladly filled it with ice and topped it off with refrigerated water for him. I walked back into the living room to find my son standing over my lap top, 5 – yes 5 note pads FILLED with important notes, numbers, etc. and him with my coffee cup turned completely upside down – empty. Coffee over it all. I was so furious; we have white/cream couches and carpet (well the carpet could be argued with all the other stains). And without a thought I grabbed him, said “NO!” “Christopher, NO!” I slapped him on his little tiny thigh – twice – yes twice, and his little heart cried so hard (this was really the first time I have ever gotten this upset with him), with no tenderness I carried him straight to his crib and slammed the door. Yes, I even slammed the door, can you believe it?!?!?
He cried for just three minutes or so and was out for his nap. He woke up a few hours later and when I opened the door there he was, filled with love in his little heart for me, so glad that I was coming to rescue him ready to go play! Not a single remembrance of how I had so harshly disciplined him. My heart just grew that much bigger for this tremendous little person.
Later that day I was telling Jon what I had done (this was really out of character for me with Christopher), and that Christopher the amazing little person he is when I went to go get him he held nothing against me, as if nothing had ever happened and we were just best of buds as we always have been. And with no hesitation, Jon said “That’s the way it should be” ….
So thank you Christopher for teaching me about unconditional love! “That’s just the way it should be.”
Nicole said,
May 22, 2009 at 7:19 pm
OH NO!! lol How’s the laptop? haha
What a sweety! He really is SO good! And what a great lesson… How easily kids are able to wipe away hurt. Why do we have this compulsion to old onto it so tightly?
Knowing you the coffee was probably three days old and room temperature so I probably don’t have to worry about him having burnt himself
Andrea Shabaglian said,
May 25, 2009 at 6:44 am
Hahaha, you’re so funny! Actually the coffee was fresh -that’s why I wanted to finish it!!!
(though you’re right, even if it was 5 days old I would of still drank it!!) 
Emma Wilkinson said,
May 28, 2009 at 9:19 am
That is so true!! That’s exactly the way it should be. I am trying to be as careful as possible but my carpet is still full of stains. But, it’s funny because reading your article i knew exactly how you felt. Giovy went to the trash bin after i told her so many times not to go and after i took her away from the bin, and she still went. I softly slapped her over her little fingers and she thought that it was a game or something and she slapped me back laughing like crazy. What can you do in this case? Just love them! We can’t wait to see you guys in July!