It was my fault, and I knew it, but that didn't keep me from taking it out on the boys. Oh no. Within an hour, I was more than grouchy – I was just plain mean, so I took a deep breath, called my mom and my cousin, packed the boys into the car and headed down to Santa Cruz.
It was escape time!
We met up with our cousins first. They'd secured tickets to see the dolphins at the Long Marine Lab, which delighted all the boys, making them laugh and clap, and afterward we went back inside to study the fish and tide pool stations.
Our cousins had swim lessons, so we said our goodbyes then ran off to meet my mom at the Boardwalk, just in time for a free performance of Cirque Magnifique.
After sitting on the bandstand for an hour in the hot hot sun, we cooled off with a root beer and played a round of Pirate Golf. Canons were raging, rooms were glowing, the woman behind us had no sense of humor – NONE – yet we all had a fabulous time. Best yet, when we were done, it was 75 cent night at the Boardwalk!
After dining on 75 cent franks, we reconnected with our cousins and the boys went wild. They drove boats, and trucks, and flew airplanes high up into the sky, finishing the night off with a gallop 'round the carousel.
We repeated our goodbyes, drove to my mom's and had baths, snacks and stories.
Cozy in there jammies, and in the car once more, I asked them if they'd enjoyed their day.
"Yes mama!" Tizzy answered. "It was a VERRRY FULL day!"
I drove us all home, carried them out under the full moon and into the house and tucked them into their beds.
It had been a full day.
Full and fun and just a teenie bit mean.
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12 comments:
Just, Wow. Even when you have the mean reds you are awesome. It's so hard to not take our moods out on the poor little buggers sometimes, isn't it? Except my 6yr old can call it now, "Are you cranky?"
I am full of awe and respect for you! If the roles were reveresed and I was in a bad mood and called my mom to come spend a day with us, at some point in the day, she'd have barraged me with the question I loathe the most, which is "Why are you so grumpy?!", and there is no adequate answer for that woman, and the day would likely have ended with me sitting in the grass, gnawing on her bones. At least in my mind!
Kudos, lady! Kudos!
I often do this too. When I am stressed and in a bad mood, I throw the kids in the car and we go. Anywhere.
Good for you for plowing on even in the midst of a Chupacabra mood!!
I'll remember you next time I feel like biting someone's head off!!
Good for you for taking what might have been an all around crappy day and turning it in to one the boys will remember forever.
I can't wait until Sophie is old enough to go out and do stuff like this.
I love anyone willing to compare herself to a Chupacabra. Excellent!
Glad you got out & about and shook off your chupacarangst.
Sorry we missed you! Looks like a great day. I love the photo of the rides- captures the Boardwalk perfectly.
I'm having alot of those days- you handle them much better than I do- you actually have fun!
Wow! I'm impressed! You turned a bad day into an awesome day. Can I have a little bit of that magic?
This has been a recurring theme this last week - being mean to others without really intending or wanting to. I am thinking about tattooing "do not say things just to be mean!" on my arm. In fact, I might tattoo it on everyone else's arms while they're sleeping, for good measure.
Good for you for turning it around.
That mean was so small I almost didn't notice it. Full is so much better, isn't it? You do good.
Wow. Nice recovery! I usually lie on the couch numb to my surroundings counting the minutes until someone else (ie Billy) comes to take care of the boys. I'll have to rethink my strategy...
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