One of THOSE days!

We had a few Christmas items to return, a watch that didn't work and a hoodie needed traded for a different size.  Since we have free passes on Frontrunner we often drive to the station and ride the train to Salt Lake,  to The Gateway.  The kids usually take their 3DS's because they can access free wi-fi and that entertains them on the ride.  Today was no different.  After our exchanges were made, we tried to hustle up to the TRAX stop to catch it back to the train station.  The TRAX was approaching and it didn't look like we were going to make it, (even though I thought we should try to run for it) but according to the schedule, we could just wait for the next one and it would arrive in the nick of time to the Frontrunner.  The next train came, we got on, and for some reason, it waited through 2 cycles of lights at the intersection without turning while we were chomping at the bit knowing that every second counted.  As we were almost there, I could see the arms of the crossing go down and sure enough the train was departing.....without us.  DANG!!  The next train was another hour!  I was a little irritated.  So we thought about going back to the Planetarium  to kill time in the gift shop, but of course, I made a snotty comment about how we should have ran for that other TRAX.  Shawn got mad and got off.  We still sat on.  He told us to do whatever we wanted.  I didn't know what to do, Taylor didn't want to go back to The Gateway to just have to turn back around and come back so I told the kids "let's go".  All the kids and myself got off.  That TRAX was ready to depart, it announced it's departure and started away.  Cade got this horror stricken look on his face and said "my 3DS case and games are on the train".  (fortunately his brand new 3DS system was in his pocket). He had set the case on the seat next to him. I started running after it and tried to push the button, but as soon as it takes off, there's no stopping it.  The kid is hysterical, I'm freaking mad, the other boys are starting to peck on Cade giving him their best "YOU dumb IDIOT" (as only brothers can do). We're like, "ARE YOU KIDDING ME, YOU JUST GOT THAT YESTERDAY!!!"  The other TRAX train that was arriving as soon as it stopped  the driver then came over asked us what the problem was, that he saw us running after the train.  He radioed the other train telling him a case and games were left, it was only a matter of minutes but as they checked the train, nothing was to be found.  How frustrating!  Someone snatched that up instantly, and as the train attendant went walking by, they must have known someone RIGHT THERE had it, and that someone knew EXACTLY what they were looking for.

We fumed, of course I was thinking that over $70 had JUST slipped through our fingers and that made me mad.  Well, the Frontrunner arrived and had about a half an hour before departure, so we boarded and sat.  One of the games was Cole's so he was feeling bad, I was still going over the what if's....what if we had run for the other TRAX, what if Shawn hadn't got mad and got off, what if I hadn't hurried the kids off, what if.........

and then tempers started to cool, the look of Cade huddled against the window with his back turned to everyone, a tear streamed face, the image of his horror stricken face as he remembered he had left his case and the games.  Of course we're thinking how we're going to "FIX" this.  Do we practice the Love and Logic and say that he's going to have to suffer the consequences and work to earn money to replace Cole's game, take his away as punishment. Or do we realize that he is just a sweet (but very forgetful) 9 year old that makes mistakes, sure, some more costly than others, but just replace the items.  Shawn called him over and gave him a hug and the tears just started flowing out of him. He felt terrible. That's when we realized what we were going to do.  

After we got home, Shawn and I left.  Christmas was yesterday for crying out loud, and we were more than ready to slow the cash flow, but we had some remains of a gift card, and I had a new coral sweater that I'm sure I didn't really need and with that we replaced the lost items. As a parent I think we're always trying to do the right thing, battling with what we think is the best way to handle a particular situation.  Others might have handled this entirely different, but in this case we did what felt right to us. You know, it's only money!