27 May 2011

Lollipop Disaster

Yesterday was one of those days that makes you want to curl up with a coffee and have a little cry, all before 7am.  Just one of those days.

By midday we were finishing up at the doctors and went to the pharmacy with the prescription for antibiotics that would make our days filled with less of poor Woody's crying.  Is it my imagination, or are juvenile ears less resilient than they used to be?

I had amused Jessie and Woody during the 40-minute wait at the doctor's with books, toys and blowing bubbles in the waiting room.  I was now amusing them with the same bubbles as we waited for the prescription to be filled.  Just when I had it all in hand, a pharmacy assistant appeared behind the counter with two garish orange and green lollipops in her hand and a big smile on her face.  She asked the children, "Would you like a lollipop?"

In the future, I will be ready with The Correct Response, which will be toclap and hand over each child's eyes saying, "Oh no, I'm sorry, but they are sick and shouldn't be eating sugary lollies."  Unfortunately I hesitated long enough for them both to see the lollipops and I made The Wrong Decision.  I reluctantly received the lollipops and started trying to liberate them from their tough plastic coffins.

It was not easy.  The plastic was really thick and difficult to break.  I finally got one of the lollipops out and gave it to Jessie first, hoping that was the right decision.  Aware that Woody was patiently waiting, I hurried as I tried to get the other lollipop out of its packaging.

Epic fail.  First I pulled the stick clean out of the lollipop, then I broke the thing into two large pieces and a million sugary crumbs.  Poor Woody.

He accepted the two large pieces with glee but once they were gone, there was no escaping the fact that due to the pharmacy lady's unhelpful generosity and my own oafishness, we were faced with fifteen minutes where Jessie HAD a lollipop, and Woody DIDN'T.  And there was nothing I could do to fix the problem.  If you are about to suggest that I could have taken Jessie's lollipop off her to at least even the score, please pause and think about it.

I need to be more alert at times when my children are offered with things that will make life more difficult, less healthy and are likely to blow up in all our faces.  Of course, one phrase I will be rehearsing is, "Oh no, I'm sorry, but they are sick and shouldn't be eating sugary lollies."

6 comments:

Emily Sue said...

What a stupid woman to offer them to the children without asking you first. What kid is going to say no? She has no idea if your children have any allergies or conditions, nor if you simply don't want them to eat lollipops.

Allegro ma non troppo said...

Poor clueless lady - she was just trying to help!

I would have chased her down and asked for another, just to make life easier. Then we would have had carrots for dinner.

tinsenpup said...

Don't even get me started on this. I really can't believe that we're still bribing stranger's children with sugar and then acting like we're huge heroes for making them happy. You'd think staff at a pharmacy would know better. This is a pet subject for me, so I'm forcing myself to stop, but I share your annoyance.

The Accidental Housewife said...

Gah! Damn sugar peddlers! Our butcher tries to foist lollipops on the kids but at least he has the decency to covertly waggle them at me from behind the counter, giving me the chance to look horrified and shoo them away.

My standard verbal response is "sure! As long as you come over to my house and stop them climbing the walls when they should be napping" It seems to work. :)

Hope the Woodster is feeling better soon!

Swift Jan said...

I hate lollipops.

I sure hope Woody gets better quickly xoxo

Unknown said...

I don't know WHAT the deal with kid's ears is anymore. I NEVER EVER EVER EVER had an ear infection - Essie had.. well.. more than I could ever count. Gert wasn't as bad, but she did have quite a few. I feel the same way about allergies - when I was little NO one had allergies - we didn't have a "peanut free table" and now... well... you know. I don't get what's different.