I’m ashamed of myself. You know that story about Abe Lincoln walking a couple miles to return a penny a customer left behind while he was a clerk at a store? The way he got the nickname Honest Abe. All my life I’ve known that story. And always felt like it was important to be that honest. But, well, I can’t say I’ve kept up the ideal.
Today, as I was unloading my cart from Target, there was an item in there that I didn’t pay for. It wasn’t a big deal, not a huge ticket item, but instead of walking back in there to return it, I just put it in the car and came home. And last week, at a scrapbook store…got to the car and found Franklin sitting on something in the stroller. Again, instead of walking back and returning it, I just put it in the car and came home, intending to make it good next time I was there.
Bad me. I really have this thing about integrity, trying to be really honest, not taking things that aren’t mine, being a good little miss Abe Lincoln. Well, turns out I’m not. I’d be willing to sacrifice my integrity for 5 minutes time and $3 in chipboard hearts. Gotta work on that.
15 Comments
don’t be so hard on yourself, shannon. the same thing happens with us too. gavin has sticky fingers unfortunately, and a lot of times we won’t notice it until we’re to the car. i usually take it back in the store, but i won’t deny that there have also been times mirroring yours. it’s okay.
I hope hell treats you nicely.
Tee hee, if THAT is going to keep us from the pearly gates I’m sure we all have a long way to go. 
Hilster
You know that has heppened to me. Savannah had a stuffed animal in her hands when we got to the car from wlamart. i KEPT the tag and months later when I returned, I showed the tag to the cashier so she could ring me up. The cashier scowled at me for not paying for it in the first place.
Oh! and then the time at Kinko’s I was short some change and the employee told me to make it up next time. Well, i tried and the employee who I tired to pay LAUGHED at me and made fun of me and wouldn’t take my money. he said “only in Utah..” Like there was something wrong with being honest. made me feel all bad about it. jerk.
hee hee hee
I think we’ve all been in this situation…most kids at some point have sticky fingers. I wouldn’t be so hard on yourself:)
I”m so honest that it actually is a problem on some occassions. Better to learn when to hold your tongue sometimes:).
You wanna know how I feel about this? I kinda have an “it all comes out in the wash” philosphy about it. Sometimes, I’m the one that gets screwed over. Like the time I left $10 of groceries at the check out that I paid for and didn’t realize until hours later. Or if I lose some cash out of my hip pocket. Or when you get overcharged for something and don’t realize it until it is too late. So the times when I get out to the car and realize I never put that jar of chopped garlic on the belt at the store and therefore it didn’t ring up, yet was in my cart when I got to the car don’t bother me so much. In the end, I just figure I’m even:).
i’ve done that before. One time I just did not have the time to unload three kids and go back in and pay for the milk. If I did not leave right then I would have a six year old sitting on my door step when I got home crying because i was late. So I had to go back later to pick up some photos, so I when I went to the photo counter I grabbed a gallon of milk and had them ring it in for me. It took three minutes just to explain what I wanted them to do. I guess I”m crazy
it’s easy to go back when it’s just you, but when you have kids with you that you have to unload and drag back in, it’s very hard.
girl, I have done that befor…I think God still loves me though…LOL
Oh man Shannon. I don’t think I can be your friend anymore
Next time you go into the store, just buy some God-awful stickers or something from them that would have been sitting on the shelves for all of eternity had you not rescued them 
Whatever…like Erin said, I’m sure it all comes out even in the end…I don’t make a POINT of swiping stuff and haven’t had it happen yet where one of the kiddos did it unwittingly but I’m sure the time will come…and really, until F-Dawg is old enough to understand how very honest it was of you to return the item it’s just a bit of time wasted anyway, right
chipboard hearts huh. i’m going to be watching for those on one of your layouts. when you put it in the gallery just label it “sticky fingers hot hearts” (he he he)
this has happened with my kids several times now. i’ve learned just to call the store when i get home ask for the manager and give them the upc number and have them charge it to my debit card. honesty restored with no return trip required.
Shannon, don’t be too hard on yourself. Doug calls me a kleptomaniac because I’ve had this happen…I find things later in my planner or purse that slipped out of sight while in the store…especially with kids! I call them as soon as I discover it…sometimes they’ll let you put it on a card. Even if they don’t, it makes it more of a commitment that I’ll return and pay for it! The worst time was at the Broadway store in Vegas when I walked out with a $200 purse on my arm! Returning it was like entering Fort Knox! glad that I called that time!
Sophia
I live in “the Land of Lincoln” so Lincoln’s honesty and integrity are around me each and every day. I think Erin kind of summed it up for me. Don’t sweat it. You didn’t do it intentionally and it’s gotta mean something that you have been thinking about it. This has happened to all of us. I think Abe would be proud of you!
pay it forward on to someone else and i am certain you’ll be ok
this happened to me once at the lss, with $15 worth of items the girl forgot to scan! i felt horrible! i took them back to her (had it been like 3 bux i’m sure i’d have just went on) and she acted so incredibly shocked–but not like she appreciated it! ack!
ok, have a nice day
Gosh - that happened to me a lot at Target when Tyler was little (it sleeps under the carried or something. And just the other day I got home from Target and paid for something I totally did not have in my cart so I guess what goes around comes around!
Gosh - that happened to me a lot at Target when Tyler was little (it slips under the carried or something. And just the other day I got home from Target and paid for something I totally did not have in my cart so I guess what goes around comes around!
With kids it’s just such a hassle! It’s hard enough to take them in in the first place! They probably make it up in all the over spending you do while you’re there with the kids…at the very least I have to buy them m&m’s before we leave and that’s on a good day.