A woman walked into a grocery store with her three-year-old daughter in the seat of a shopping cart. As they passed the cookie section, the little girl asked for cookies, and her mother told her no.

The little girl immediately began to whine and fuss, kicking her legs in irritation.

The mother said quietly, “Now, Monica, we just have half of the aisles left to go through; don’t be upset. It won’t be long.”

Soon they came to the candy aisle, and the little girl began to beg for candy. When her mother said she couldn’t have any, the little girl began to cry. The mother patiently responded with “There, there, Monica— only two more aisles to go, and then we’ll be checking out.”

When they got to the checkout, the little girl immediately started clamoring for gum, and she threw a loud tantrum when her mother refused. With a deep sigh, the mother said, “Monica, we’ll be through this checkout lane in five minutes, and then you can go home and have a comfy nap.”

A man followed them out to the parking lot and stopped the woman to compliment her:
“I couldn’t help noticing how patient you were with little Monica,” he said. The mother laughed. “My little girl’s name is Tammy. I’m Monica.”