Tuesday, September 08, 2009

I Was That Mom

With the crowds dying down a little, we've been using our Disneyland Season Passes more lately. Sometimes we've gone two to three times each week. But you can do that, when you live fifteen minutes away.

Last Thursday, my mom and I took Angry Toddler to Disneyland. We got there around 5pm. The park closed at 9pm. When we go to Disneyland, we let Angry Toddler make all of the ride choices. After all, it's his gig, let him pick. We went on The Jungle Cruise, The Haunted Mansion, and It's a Small World. He danced in Tomorrow Land. He got a Buzz Lightyear toy. Gotta love that birthday certificate that he received in May. I still had $20 left on it.

And then...it was time to leave.

We were walking down Main St. We peeked through the store windows as usual. Because there's no way we were going to actually take him in the store. This kid wants anything and everything. But he didn't even beg for a balloon like he usually does. Shocking, because now they even have Mickey-head shaped balloons that light up.

We hit almost the end of Main St. We are right by the Emporium. And then we have the "sit down". As a parent, you should know the sit down, by now. Where out of nowhere, their body goes limp, and they just sit down. The tears start to roll down. They become dead weight. He was fine two minutes ago. So I ask him, "what's wrong?" The tears and sniffles start. He replied, "I want to go on one more ride. I don't want to leave." I point to the crowd storming down Main St. and I nicely tell him, "Disneyland is closing soon. See everyone around us. They are leaving too. It's time to go home. And we are going on one more ride, the tram to the parking lot." He gets up and slowly starts walking. We go over to the Emporium because I wanted to look at the Halloween goodies. I should have known better. He lost it again by the sucker display. And this is what he had to say. "I NEVER get suckers, I NEVER get ANYTHING". Yea ok, I believe you had a churro about 30 minutes ago.

He turned into a limp bowl of jelly again. They my mom tried to pick him up. She even tried the under the armpit carry. My kid is heavy. He's like almost 45 pounds at 4 years old. He doesn't look that big, but the kid is solid. She couldn't get him up. I could see the anxiety starting. We finally made it out of the store and onto the tram. He sat down on the floor and would not sit on the seat. I was trying to fold the stroller and get onto the tram myself. My mom was persuading him to get up. He was not budging. So I then became that mom, at the "Happiest Place on Earth" in front of all the tourists. I screamed, "Sit up, sit up now. You will sit on the seat. The tram is leaving. Do you want it to leave without you? Because it will. Then you will have to walk back to the car." I said a few more words too, don't judge me, we've all been there. He finally got up. Once again, the tears were flowing. We made it to the car. Mr. Cranky was super tired, we get that. Yet the week before, we left Disneyland at 11pm. He was fine.

I got home and posted this as my Facebook Status:


I got (5) likes and 12 comments on that Facebook status. They were some of my favorite comments. Because as a parent, I think we've all BEEN THERE.

Lisa-"I know that look well...from the receiving end, of course."

Ruth-"I was that parent Feb 7, 2007 by the Pirates of Caribbean.. It was so horrible that date is etched in my mind.. I feel for you!"

Robin-"I was that parent last September at Walt Disney World. Food court in Land pavilion- sorry if I scared anyone! Someone decided to pitch a total melt down fit over..........Cheetos. I feel for you Julie!"

Amy-"End of July 2009 at 11:56pm...ALL the way down Main St...but mine was a 10 year old...that looks like she is 15. Good times."

I've had many moments like this as a parent of a four year old. I will have many more. Thankfully, I know that all the other parents out there understand. You've been there, done that, and will do it again!

29 comments:

  1. I'd much rather see someone like you being "that parent" than giving in and sweet talking to their manipulative behavior! Go Julie!!!

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  2. I have those moments every time I go to the grocery store with all of the kids...sigh. Nothing peeves me more than that jello body. I wanna know who taught these kids that trick!

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  3. HA! As you know, I have been there;)

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  4. We've all been THAT mom. Next time I think you should buy him anything and everything that he wants in the store, then he'll leave the Happiest Place on Earth happy ;-)

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  5. I think we all have those moments. And as a mom of a 4.5 year old I can totally relate. I swear they get harder every year.

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  6. My kids are teens and I seem to be "that" parent more than ever. Hmmm.

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  7. Is that what I have to look forward to? J/K I totally understand..I am the oldest of 5 kids. Don't feel bad. Usually, if a kid says you're a mean mom, then you're probably doing something right.

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  8. I think everyone appreciates knowing that they aren't alone. A lot of times people see others at the "perfect" parents, and people love to know that not everyone is perfect. Everyone has those moments! Thanks for sharing yours!

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  9. I have never been that parent only because I am not a parent yet. So I have something to look forward to. I have however been that big sister. I remember my little sis screaming at me and throwing her shoes at me on Main Street. I do believe I threw them back at her. Now she was 4 and I was 14 so at the time I felt it was the right thing to do. It was about that time my mom turned into that parent.

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  10. I'm that mom every day. EVERY SINGLE DAY. With two toddlers so close in age, the opportunities are endless.

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  11. I have been there way too many times to count. Ay Yi Yi!

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  12. I saw that status and it made me laugh. You are a jerk! I kid. Disneyland brings that out in kids. :)

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  13. Ya know, I didn't have any problems like that when either kid was young but I have paid dearly for it now. My boy who is 19 now had do S*** like that to me for the last two years any where any time. Now I just walk off and leave. I wish it was when it was when he was two, I'm like WTF... I feel for Ya and NO just because I didn't have problems I don't look at people weird because their kid or kids are having melt downs. It just happens. I mean if we could get into their little bodies and make them act a certain way we would but we can't, we were out of control once we made them.... Hang in there.... You're a good parent...

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  14. This is a great story and yes, I have been there!

    I only disagree with what some have said, that kids are being "manipulative" when they are upset or freaking out. I mean imagine being a kid and not being in charge of SO MUCH of your day-to-day life. I have empathy for the suckers.

    Yet, yes, we've all been there and these moments can be so hard on me as a parent. I mean my son has HUGE meltdowns sometimes and is also large enough I can't drag him anymore. It's causing me to use my brain and think ahead more but also, to just KNOW that damn, parenthood is tough sometimes.

    Thx for writing.

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  15. I am "that parent" almost daily. LOL My 4 year old is very challenging. She is smart, funny, imaginative and sanity robbing all rolled into one.

    Unfortunately, in this society, you cannot discipline your kids in public without angry stares or someone, inevitably thinking you are being abusive.

    I feel your pain. I have been there more than you know. I did name my blog Last Shreds Of Sanity for a reason! LMAO

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  16. My 8yo has perfected turning me into "that parent" into an art. I truly believe it's his favorite sport to see how much I can take before my head spins and I spew pea soup. Yep, we've all been there.

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  17. Oh yes I hate when I have "that mom" moment. When I take my three kids in public and they are just exhausted and decide to melt down - I curse myself for knowing better!!!

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  18. So far, 95% of the time I have been "that parent", I get thumbs up from other parents who witness it.

    Also, my family is going on a Disney cruise in two weeks. I will be sure to have at least one incident like that, probably more. My toddler turns 3 tomorrow and he has many tantrums. My own mother laughs at this because I was just as bad, if not worse than my son. I remember many times I did the kicking and screaming on the ground thing. My mom is getting her revenge.

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  19. next time my son and i go there, I'M going to do the sit down. I'M not going to move and see what HE does! ha

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  20. No judgment here! ;) btw... since you seem to know a lot about Disneyland... when is the BEST time of year to go there? We are not from there, of course, but are planning a trip back soon. Last time we went in February, which was pretty great, but it did get rainy one night. I just want to know when we aren't going to be waiting 3 hours for rides AND the weather will "probably" cooperate! THANKS! ;)

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  21. Honey, it's just starting. I'm witnessing the angry young cannibals in our house from a nana's perspective now. When my daughter yells at her kids, after finally losing it, after giving them just enough rope to hang themselves, I think, no way would I go back there. No freakin' way.

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  22. Uhhhh...yeah, I was there today at The Farm in the Zoo. No fun:P Serves us right for being nice to them;)

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  23. We were supposed to go to WDW for Mimi's breakfast tomorrow...but with Tommy just getting home from teh hospital, we have postponed. Damn it--I had to make the breakfast reservations 3 months ago--and they are booked up for weeks :(

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  24. Holy Moly. Yes, I have been that Mom, but not yet at the happiest place on earth. Maybe that's why we haven't taken him yet!!!

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  25. You don't even want to know how I do Disney. I'll tell you anyway. I write down the order of the rides on a legal pad, which I carry around the park. We never wait in line more than 15 minutes, and we ride some things twice in a row with no wait. However...I win crazy mommy of the year (and I still have to yell occasionally, Disney or no).

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  26. I love this post and will so post it on facebook the next time my son meltdown on me!

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  27. When my kids pull the "sit down" I just shrug and walk away, they always fully believe that I'm going to abandon them and chase after me.

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  28. I have never been to Disney and dread it for that very reason. When I finally make it, it's not going to be pretty. At all.

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  29. Yeah, we've never been to Disneyland but we did have a meltdown in the library yesterday. A man (I'm assuming that's a dad) was laughing quietly at us. I thought it was kind of funny, too. :)

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