April 21, 2006

Toddlers!

Today was a pretty relaxing Friday, for the most part. Doodlebug and I went to the Central Wisconsin Children’s Museum with his classmates this morning. Nate and Sophia turn 2 years old this weekend and this field trip was how we celebrated. It was so wonderful to go along with his class since I had the day off. Normally, I can never steal away any time to visit, so when I was invited to come along I was very excited.

The CWCM is in our mall. It has a wonderful play area with many educational toys and on certain days of the week they host a “Toddler Music Class”. I really had fun getting to know his teachers and his classmates better. All the kids had a wonderful time. They especially loved the “Grocery Store” section where they could fill their play carts full of empty cereal boxes and “play foods”. I have a new photo album attached.

After the field trip, Doodlebug and I headed for home. He fell asleep in the car. He must have played hard! I carried him delicately to his crib and he rustled for a bit, then napped for two hours. Goofball had to run an errand with his friend. He borrowed a garden machine called a Roto-Tiller (or so I’m told) and had to return it to his friend’s brother’s house. When he came home, Doodlebug was awake and we headed to dinner at the new IHOP they built in our town. I was very impressed with the service.

Dining with a toddler is CRAZY! We sat in a fairly quiet section of the restaurant and for the most part the Bug behaved. That is until the food came. He demanded my croutons in my salad. I set three or four on his place mat before him and he still insisted on picking them off my plate by himself. With every little squeal from his mouth, I noticed the other patrons of the restaurant staring and I instantly began mouthing the “I’m sorries” and smiling politely. It seems that every person nearby was elderly and these Grandma-types were practically horrified that I wasn’t “minding” my child better. The Bug threw his napkin across the table and one woman had the nerve to say to her husband (rather loudly), “If I wanted to dine with a child, I’d invite the grandchildren over, at least they’d be better behaved.” I was irritated. First of all, it was 4:30 in the afternoon, a rather quiet time for dining. Second of all, he wasn’t crying or screaming, just the occasional (loud) demand and throwing of paper objects.

The waitress was very polite and made a comment at how adorable the Bug was. But maybe she was just doing that for a better tip? Even the manager of this newly built restaurant came over and politely asked how are meals were and smiled lovingly at my son.

We managed to get through our entrees swiftly, the Bug ate like a bird, and while he was patiently waiting for us to finish, he stood in our booth and looked out window. Suddenly a small object flew past and he screamed. Without thinking I replied, “Yes! Birdies!” I obviously said that too loudly, because the waitress, my husband and several other diners began to giggle. It was then and there that I realized I spend entirely too much time with my toddler. BIRDIES? What was I thinking?? I could feel my face get hot. Who says “Birdies?” It’s amazing how well I’m able to multi-task. I can maneuver my fork with one hand to feed my face and I can expertly use the other to pull the Bug off the table and instinctively catch him before he falls out of the booth. I sometimes envy my husband as he sits across the table, able to use both his hands to eat. If he only knew how difficult this was. And sometimes he’s completely oblivious to my quick reactions and manipulative tactics to get the Bug to behave!

After the waitress brought the check, I started cleaning the table. My husband curtly said, “Why are you doing that? They have bus boys.” I felt so bad at the mess our child made and replied, “I don’t want these waitresses to clean his mess! And that old lady is staring at me.” Funny, how I felt the need to clean the table! I am really a mother, aren’t I?

As we were leaving the restaurant, the waitstaff smiled and welcomed us to come back again, and I noticed a familiar face. My 18-year old cousin just got a job at the new IHOP and I was thrilled to see her, and to tell her to apologize to the bus person for our mess. She said we should not worry, that we were the best family in the place! I instantly felt better.

Not a bad day at all…I’m feeling like pancakes now…