Adina’s Cute & Perky Blog!

My boys were not born with good genetics. They have no ability to shop whatsoever. As future men, they were born missing the shopping gene.

With the trip to UFC 98 just a few days away, I decided to take the boys shopping. Separately, of course. I’m not stupid. The only thing worse than taking a guy shopping, is taking two guys shopping.

Day one was Micah. We walked into Old Navy. He found the dark khaki cargo shorts and we bought three pairs. He won’t wear the light ones or the frayed ones or the drawstring ones. We got no shirts, because as Micah put it, “I have some.”

Boy, that was fun. Can’t wait to do it again.

Day two was Jonah, and into Old Navy we went.

I directed him to his section of the store, but he looked confused.

“Not the bikinis, son. Walk farter. Look farther. Breathe. Think.”

“OHHHHH.”

“It’s a pretty safe bet I’m not going to steer your toward women’s swimwear. Now, go find something and I’ll be along to check you out.”

“I don’t need your help. I’m old enough to find my own stuff now.”

“Good. Being as I’m buying, I’ll still be checking.”

So I give him what I think is ample time before I go off in search of him. I round the corner to find him holding up a tee-niny pair of shorts.

“Look. I told you I could do it.”

“Son. That’s an eight. You need a twelve.”

He looks at me in horror as I hold up what seems monstrously big to him.

“Look how LONG those are.”

“That’s what you need. Trust me.”

He holds the eight up, and I can tell we’re going to battle. So I simply say, “Alright. Go try them on….and show me.”

I follow him, because it is my job as him mom to torture him.

The boy was bound and determined to get the shorts on. I could hear the struggle. Then, “Mom?”

“Yes, son.”

“I need a bigger size.”

“Why don’t you let me see?”

“I don’t want to.”

“No. I think you need to. Just to make sure.”

The door slowly opens, and there stood my boy in all his size eight glory!

Without cracking a smile, I say, “How do they feel son? You need to sit down and make sure you can bend. Can you breathe in them?”

“You know I need a bigger size.”

“No. You need two sizes bigger.”

“Mom!”

I pulled the bigger size from behind me. Of course, I had brought them with me.

But it was funny after we put our bags in the car to hear Jonah’s thoughts. “I don’t understand. They looked too big, and that other pair looked just right.”

And I said the only thing a mom could say. “Jonah, if you always go by looks, you will have an empty life. Some things will look too hard. Some things will not look fun. It’s not until you try it that you now. Even with people. Some people look snobby, but they’re shy. Some look mean, but they’re focused.”

And it even works that way in the mirror, y’all. Take a good look. It may look like you’re ready to give up….but you’ve got one more try in there.

Size eight…eight pounds….eight reps… whatever you need. It’s there. Just look again. And then stop looking and start doing.