A Happy Kid!

Today, Matt, Maggie, and I went to Home Depot for some electric cord holders and storage solutions. As we were checking out (with Maggie in the cart watching Mickey Mouse on Matt's iPhone), the gentleman who had just completed checkout in front of us says "Now, that's a happy kid. You know, for whatever it's worth, a happy kid is a sign of good parents!" Matt and I looked at each other and I said "that's so nice of you to say. It is much better than the looks we normally get when she is screaming in the store or in the checkout line wanting something or just refusing to behave. She's not very happy then so maybe today we caught a break!" He laughed and said "No, I am serious" and I said "Me too" and thanked him again for being so nice.

We have learned (from Aengus' parents) that stuff on the iPhone occupies the wee ones just long enough for us to complete a chore - it often wards of the toddler meltdowns that are legendary. I don't know if we are good parents, and I often feel guilty when I let her play with the iPhone. But,it was nice to hear that, especially when toddler parents get looks all the time when their kids are melting down and pitching fits. After having Maggie, I am pretty certain that no one in the world wants their child to behave or be more quiet that the respective parent. So, here's to more nice chats at checkouts rather than more nasty mean looks and to the next generation of iPhones :-).