Valentine

So the kids have a knack for getting things for free. I've seen it in action only a handful of times, but that's enough to impress me. When I was growing up, I don't recall ever getting anything for free, as a gift, from a retailer.

Twice, at two different Panera locations, my daughters have received free goodies. The first was in Dublin, where I was meeting with a client. I didn't have any cash and didn't want to interrupt the meeting, so when the kids asked if they could have a sweet, I said no. The client gave the kids five dollars and they walked up to the counter, not believing their luck. A few moments later, they returned with the five dollars and a tray of cookies and sweets. They gave the five dollars back, and explained that the man at the counter had given them the food for free. I am assuming this was because it was close to closing time, but maybe it's just that my kids are charming and cute, to other adults.

The second Panera was the one on High Street in Clintonville. The kids were hungry after waiting an exceptionally long time at the salon for haircuts, so I promised them their favorites, Chipotle for Tayler and Panera for Tyler. We were standing in line to order a lunch for Tyler, and she asked for a cookie. I said no. I said I didn't buy a treat for your sister, so I am not buying one for you. The manager, who happened to be the person taking our order, asked what kind of cookies she and her sister liked and after Tyler told him he slipped the cookies into the Panera take out bag.

The most meaningful, however, is the candy shop where the kids go frequently. They went down with ten dollars in hand a week or so ago to buy Scott and I a present for Valentines Day. The shopkeeper saw that they didn't have enough money to buy what they wanted to give us and gave them a discount, saying that they were such good customers. Then, she gave them heart shaped boxes to put the candies in and helped them assemble boxes to hide the shape of the heart shaped boxes. Finally she helped them wrap the boxes.

This all leads up to this morning when Scott and I received the boxes of chocolates, and delighted over them. Tayler also made me a coupon book, bound together with a binder clip. On the front she proudly announced I could keep the clip (she covets these clips), and inside the booklet were coupons for dates together, dinner made by her, and a nap uninterrupted by kids. Sweet.