The other day at the grocery store, I was walking down the cereal aisle and I was confronted by a kid begging his mom for a box of Cookies & Creme Cheerios. The mom, who very clearly was not going to buy this cereal, told the boy very sternly to “put it back.” 

The begging turned to whining and eventually led to the kid reluctantly putting the cereal back on the shelf. I walked over and picked up that very box and like a complete jerk threw it in my cart in front of the kid and walked off. I didn’t feel bad until I hit the produce aisle and remembered how it felt as a kid to have no control over what my mom put in the cart.

It’s funny how long it takes into your adulthood before you realize the power you have. For years when shopping at the grocery store, I would hear my mom’s voice in my head say, “no, you don’t need that” or “put it back.” 

In 2020 I briefly broke free, and during the COVID-19 lockdown I ordered an entire box of Cadbury eggs, and nobody stopped me. Naturally, I came to my senses and gave away the bulk of the candy and eventually that little voice in my head returned. 

On a recent field trip with my high school class, we stopped at a food court in South Tucson. For most of us, the number of choices was overwhelming. I made a quick decision and ordered a cheeseburger. I watched the kids wander around gathering food of all different kinds. Hamburgers, pizza, sushi, meatballs, milkshakes and tacos. There were no moms here telling them to pick one or that they had had enough. Realizing that I was the only one listening to my inner mom voice, I followed their lead and jumped up and ordered a falafel and hummus too. Then I went back for a strawberry raspado. Gathered in front of me was an odd assortment of food that I hardly ate but I enjoyed every minute of it. 

The other adult across the table from me also ignored the adult in her and had sushi, egg rolls and a chocolate-and-vanilla swirl ice cream cone all at the same time. 

I hate that eventually all those kids will acquire that inner voice that shuts them down every time they want to buy a box of sugary cereal. I am also hopeful that that same voice will keep them from making stupid mistakes. 

I do, however, encourage them to buy the cereal and the occasional candy bar even though they don’t need it. It’s hard out here in the real world where the only thrills are breaking even on your taxes and paying off your car. That’s why every now and then I act like a kid and buy stuff that I don’t need to prove that I’m an adult and I can do whatever I want – a paradox that the kid at the grocery store will eventually understand. But until then, I recommend he keeps on begging for that cereal.

Cassina Farley can be contacted at cassinaandzachfarley@msn.com.