Scenario #1
I know that my book club has lovingly given me the label of Martha Stewart (hey, we share the same initials) and they do expect a certain level of "perfection" whenever I bring food or host. However, at our last meeting, I entered Jessica's (host) house a half hour late since I totally forgot we were meeting early so we can enjoy dinner as a celebration for our last meeting before summer break. I had agreed to bring the main dish - my mom's delicious and always-a-hit chicken enchiladas recipe. And, just before leaving for book club with my warm Mexican dish looking amazing and delicious, Nate and I have an argument over the expenses of replacing our wood fence (priority #1) and purchasing an outdoor play set for the girls (priority #2 that I would like to be #1). I leave frustrated over trying to prove to Nate the importance of having a play area that is close to the house, something Haven can enjoy while I tend to baby during the summer, a sturdy quality play set that is toddler appropriate.... yada yada yada. Now, I arrive at book club late, but thankfully the enchiladas are still hot, and I am greeted by a group of hungry gals. We all dish up, start to eat, except I am apologizing over my tardiness and fill the girls in on my battle with fence vs. play set. Finally, I took a big bite of the enchiladas and swallowed in HORROR!! I quickly grabbed my cell phone and called Nate, who is at home. Honestly, I really didn't want to talk to him at the moment since I wasn't feeling the love at home before I left... BUT, I had to know what spice was sitting in the front of my spice shelf. And, before he gave me my answer I knew... instead of 2 tablespoons of chili powder, I used 2 tablespoons of nutmeg!! NOOOOO! I quickly hung up and faced the group to tell them my mistake. Some had eaten their portion out of desperate hunger, some were politely pushing their "spiced" enchiladas around their plate trying to disguise the off-taste of the dish, and one gal actually said she like the taste of nutmeg mingled with tomatoes, cheese and chicken. I was embarrassed, and felt bad that I spent a few hours the night before making TWO casserole size dishes of chicken enchiladas (one for book club, one for weekend). However, what I learned is that sometimes I need to let go of expectations and realize that nutmeg chicken enchiladas is exactly what people need to see to realize that I am human too... and nine months pregnant... which was my excuse. It is the baby's fault that I can't think straight and use the correct ingredients for my recipes!!!
Scenario #2
I needed to go to the mall since half of my family celebrates their birthdays in June. It was a rainy day and Haven woke up smiling, so off we go to get some needed shopping done! Before we make it into a store, Haven spots the mall's strollers that are cute little trucks and can be rented by the hour. Our green Chico stroller was no longer good enough, and she began demanding the Mall's truck stroller. Ya know what?! Fine! I wanted to get shopping done, and if we can do that in the truck stroller... you bet! No problem! Sign me up, here are my keys to hold for lateral... off we go in the large red truck stroller! We pass the candy store... Hmmm... I am just going to go the extra mile and get her a few gummy bears to chomp on to make my life a bit easier and to keep her happy and distracted while we shop. Off we go in the red truck stroller, a bag of gummy bears, and a happy kid! I can already foresee the success of this trip. I am going to get SO MUCH DONE! First stop - Bath and Body Shop - just my luck, they are having a summer clearance sale! I stroll the isles looking for the deals and filling my blue bag with products as I skillfully maneuver the very large and now cumbersome Mall red truck stroller between kiosks of bubble bath and smelly lotions. Off to a great start... I have found some nice, smelly goods on sale, and begin to head to the check out counter... when, Haven (now done with her gummy bears which I was hoping to last for at least a half and hour or so) demands to get out of the stroller. I am okay with this, since I know we are going to be done quickly as I make my way up to the counter. Haven wants to push the stroller. Okay.
"Wait! Haven! You need to follow mommy to the counter so we can pay for our stuff. Listen to mommy and obey." She is not obeying. She is trying to turn the large red truck stroller around and out towards the mall... and there she goes! I quickly run (more like waddle now) grab her, and the stroller, reverse direction and head to the counter. Haven is now upset and crying since I disturbed her course of direction and demands to push the stroller away from the counter. In a rush, I throw my stuff on the counter and the clerk begins to ring me up... why did I have to pick out 15 different items! Haven is now throwing the dreaded tantrum and is demanding me to pick her up. Not an option for me at this point since she is out of control and I can't hold her while paying for my purchases. I quickly told her she needed to calm down before mommy would pick her up. It was soon apparent that she was past the point of calming down... I am now experiencing a hot flash (they do happen to pregnant women) and feel sweat pouring out of every one of my pores and I quickly gave the clerk my card to swipe for the final transaction! Now, a completely out-of-control Haven has lost all her privileges. I force her into the stroller and strap her in, turn around, scribble something like my name on the receipt, grab the bag, and quickly maneuver the stroller around the maze of display stands and out into the mall... followed by a sympathetic gaze of the Bath and Body greeter gal... or was that a look of relief? By now, Haven is trying to throw herself out of the stroller and screaming her head off. I can't believe this is happening! We have the red truck Mall stroller, the gummy bears, and the promise of an Orange Julius if she was extra good. I knew it was time to leave, so off we go to turn in the truck stroller and get the heck out of the mall! Of course, the lady manning the stroller kiosk is on the phone and I run into a gal with her two kids who we were in Kindermusik class with. "Haven is having a bad day," I stammer totally humiliated that my toddler is still screaming and trying to chuck herself out of the red truck. Finally, I get my stroller and make a B-line for the mall doors... then that nice gal from Kindermusik is calling my name... Oh, I had forgotten my keys at the stroller kiosk.... SHOOT! I turn around with my out of control kid who is now trying to escape from our stroller to face the mall crowd again. I just hate having everyone looking at me wondering what I am going to do with this screaming, thrashing 2 1/2 year old. Nothing! I am going to do nothing except get my keys and leave! Now, I am feeling the pregnancy hormones surface around the corner of my eyes and I am having to try to pull myself together! We make it to the truck, both of us in tears, and back home we go. When I look back on this mall mayhem experience, I realize I needed to be reminded that I do have a normal toddler and I can't be in control of child's behavior 100% of the time. Plus, who cares what people may be thinking. Sometimes people need to be reminded of what it was like raising a toddler... if they had kids at all.
I wanted to write these two experiences down since I needed the good dose of reality, and felt like maybe others might relate in reading my "moments" of the month. =0)
