To the officer that gave me a ticket...

A few weeks ago on a Saturday morning, we pulled our license plate off our car to clean it and add the new year to the plate.

"If you take the plate off, give it a good wash, dry it, make sure the plate is warm, the sticker will stick better" I remember my dad telling me when I bought the car from him.

I sent Mr. Miller out to put the plate back on and forgot about it until later on in the day. 

I was out doing running around and had M in the car with me.

She really is the sweetest 5 year old around.

I was stopped at a light that had just turned red. 

I picked up my phone and sent my mom a quick text.

"Mom, can I use your club card at the store to get a discount on sugar" 

Send

I waited for the light to turn green and when it did, I went.

About 2 kilometers down the road there was an officer in the right hand lane that was going slow.

I proceeded to pass him on the left hand side, not speeding at all. 

As soon as I passed him he got behind me, flicked on his lights (thank heavens no sirens!) and motioned for me to pull over.

All of a sudden all I could think about was the stupid license plate and thought Mr. M had not put the plate back on. 

I was panicking mildly.

When I pulled over, the cop approached me and asked if I knew why I was pulled over. 

All I could think about was that stupid plate.

"Please tell me I have my license plate on the back of the car"
"Yes Ma'am, your plate is on your car"

"You pulled me over because I sent a text at the light?"
"Yes Ma'am. Not only that but I saw you pick it up as you were driving down the road. I was going to let you get away with it but when you picked it up driving with your daughter I knew I could not let it go"

I KNEW I had not picked it up while I was driving down the road. 

I looked over and saw a chocolate bar next to me on the seat and explained to the officer that it was a chocolate bar that I broke off and gave a piece to my daughter.

He believed me but still had to give me a ticket.

Fair enough, I was the one that sent the text.

I have thought about this a LOT in the past few weeks.

We all have things in life that we do that we know we should not do.

I am not the only one who has done this, won't be the last.

But to the officer that gave me the ticket, I say THANK-YOU!

Thank-you for reminding me that more importantly than sending a text about sugar that I should be talking with my daughter at a red light. 

She is the best sugar a mother could have.

Thank-you for slowing me down enough to remind me to enjoy the moments with my children.

Thank-you for being kind to me in the pull-over.

Thank-you for teaching me that honesty is appreciated. 

He was grateful that I said I sent the text, that I didn't argue or fight him on it.

Thank-you for not giving me a ticket for not having my insurance but knew that I had it because I was being honest about texting.

Thank-you for being kind to my daughter and explaining that mommy is not a horrible person.

Thank-you for teaching my daughter to say "Mommy, no texting at red lights!" e.v.e.r.y.t.i.m.e we get in the vehicle.

I am grateful for lessons in life that come our way. 

They do not always come in the way I would like but $172 is a lesson I would rather pay than others that I can imagine.