Weight loss, child discipline, and the homeless

"Emmett, please don't do that" was the most common phrase I said during a trip to the grocery store yesterday. I finally resorted to bribery: "Okay Emmett, you can get those donuts ONLY if you listen and obey for the rest of the time we're here."

He didn't get the donuts. But since I had already bought them, I thought "I'll just eat them myself" (Little Red Hen philosophy). My diet doesn't endorse donuts. And I knew I would would be really disappointed in myself if I ate those donuts. But I was feeling pretty hungry, and my voice of reason gets bullied and ignored sometimes when I'm tired and grumpy (Emmett). But then I was saved by a guy who had a sign like this:

I don't think he knew he was saving me by taking those donuts.