Coconut Love

Walking through the grocery store, my 4 year old ran towards the coconuts with much excitement. "Coconuts! Mommy, there's coconuts! Can we get one? Can we get one?"

"No, I don't think we need to get a coconut" I responded.

As I was saying no to her, I was wondering why. Such a simple request. A coconut. She was so excited. A little bit of the exotic in her 4 year old life.

I saw her excitement turn to disappointment as she heard me say no. Again, I wondered what my immediate reaction of 'no' was all about. Perhaps it was because it wasn't on my 'list'. Perhaps it was because I had never in fact eaten an actual coconut before. Perhaps it was because I had no CLUE how to open a coconut. Perhaps it was because I was anticipating many requests for frivolous junk food, and in turn I was ready and waiting with my 'no' response. To be honest, I am not sure where my immediate reaction of 'no' came from. But, regardless of where it came from, I was in the wrong. So I corrected my mistake immediately when I realized how ridiculous I was being.

"You know what Sadie, I was being silly. Of course you can have the coconut."

"Yeah! And can I hold it while we shop? How do we open it? How will we get the coconut milk out? Can we open it as soon as we get home? I thought we can only get coconuts in the jungle, how did it get here? Do you hear it? When I shake it, you can hear all the milk moving around. I can't wait to try to open the coconut."

And to think, I was going to deny my daughter such simple and exquisite pleasure. A coconut. Joy can come in the smallest packages.

And yes, with much determination and a little help from her dad, we opened the coconut. We all enjoyed the fruit of our labours.

Now, I walk through the grocery aisles with my eyes a little wider and with my list safely tucked away in a pocket. I am saying 'yes' more to new flavours and new experiences. I am paying attention to colours and textures. "No" no longer waits upon my tongue. "Yes" abounds.