An Honesty Lesson

So, last Saturday, when it decided to snow, I ended up taking both Isabel and Zaquel to the grocery store (much to my dismay). We did our little shopping and as we were getting to the check-out line, Zaquel noticed a large display of lollipops. I quickly told him I was not going to buy one and that he could only look at them.
"I know, I know, I know" He said.

I took him out of the cart and let him down. Big mistake!

In the meantime, I was going about putting my groceries on the belt and then paid for them. Zaquel wanted back in the cart and I was not going to argue with that thought. We were loaded up and put on our hats and went out into the snowy weather to our van.

Here is the bombshell:

As I was loading the kids in the car, Zaquel says, "I'm a stinker!" He then whips out a lollipop from his coat pocket!

Shock and Awe seem to overwhelm Isabel and I but we did tell him he stole this and it is against the law to steal and that he could go to jail for stealing and I was very disappointed in his choice and Jesus doesn't want us to steal that is why it is a commandment "Thou Shalt Not Steal".

During all this talking, Zaquel of course felt horribly guilty and started to cry. (I know it was sad) I was just so disappointed that he did this!

I then finished loading the groceries in the van and marched him back into the store and told him he was going to give this back and say sorry. We make it to the cashier and he is gripping my leg and will not come out from behind it. I had him give the lollipop back to them and have him try to say sorry, but he was just crying his little eyes out. I explained to the girls that he took it without paying for it. They took it back and we headed out to the van AGAIN!

He was so sad about this. I know he will never forget this experience and I know this is how they learn but man, when it actually happens, it is not fun!

I do have to confess that when I was about Zaquels' age I, yes little old honest me, stole a 15 pack of Extra spearmint gum from the store. My mom did the same thing to me that I did with Zaquel. Awwwww, these little moments we remember!

Needless to say, as we were driving home, Zaquel asks. "Mom, who is going to jail?" I didn't quite know what he was asking. He said again, "Who has to go to jail because I took the candy?" I mean how sweet is that! I explained to him that because we returned the candy no one has to go to jail.

He is just the sweetest boy who really wanted a lollipop but got much, much more than he bargained for!