…to the pretzel shop in our rather dismal, dying mall.
Dear Pretzel Peoples, I really needed you to come through for me. Let me explain: my kindergartner just finished her first full week of school. Earlier in the week, this child (my child) who rarely asks for anything, asked – politely – if we could go to the mall this weekend to get pretzel bites. As any proud mom would do, I smiled and replied affirmative. The weekend came. After many other unexplainable events of which were not her fault, we arrived at said mall to purchase said pretzel bites. “The ones that are all buttery and delicious”, she said. Unbeknownst to us, your pretzel bite location was closed. To my shock, I read the posted sign detailing your legal and financial woes. As my young child stared in horror at the darkened heat lamps and noticeable lack of “buttery pretzel bite” smell, the realization began to sink in. There would be no pretzel bites for her today. And, according to the date in March 2021, there had not been any pretzel bites in quite some time. I hope you understand this: I get it. Times are hard, the economy is a rollercoaster, the list goes on. But I made a promise to a young lady who had her heart set on pretzel bites. Yes, the buttery, delicious ones. Of which you let me down. You, pretzel people, did not hold up your end of the bargain. Therefore, I had a sad, disappointed, mildly angry child to explain to, in an age-appropriate way, why there would be no pretzel bites today. I SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN IN THIS SITUATION! You should be ashamed of the second-best option I presented to her. Sure, cookies and smoothies and coffee are some of her favorite things. To be honest, they are some of my favorite things, as well. However, they were not pretzel bites! They were not what I promised. You should make this right. Sincerely, the mother of a pretzel bite-loving girl.
__________________________
I ask you –
Have you ever made a promise you couldn’t fulfill but which was completely out of your control?
Do you enjoy pretzel bites?
Please pass this on to anyone you may know whom owns a pretzel bite business. They need to know how important this business is to at least one young girl.
Running on Fumes 
Many, many times I have had to disappoint a child (and now a grandchild) because I had to renege on a promise through no fault of my own. I usually try to make it a lesson, in some way. (1) we can’t always get what we want (2) but we can find other ways to satisfy our hunger for pretzel bites/cookies/dinner out/a play date/the new movie, etc etc. It’s a lesson we don’t want to have to teach our youngest ones, but unfortunately that lesson comes up way too soon.
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