two little monkeys crying at the library
12:05 PMOH MY GOD! Last night I (we) experienced one the biggest tantrums ever in the history of parenting—for real.
It started out quite lovely. We picked the boys up from school and then also picked up my dry cleaning. I remembered that a new toy store had recently opened up shop near the dry cleaner, so we popped in for a visit. You see, we had time to kill before the Big Event—Curious George was at the library! The library was going give out books and George dolls. Bananas and juice (and hopefully birthday cake) were going to be served.
Needless to say, the boys were excited.
Earlier this month (because admission is free between 5 and 8pm) we dragged the boys to both the historical museum and art museum on First Thursday. This also resulted in disaster. Apparently the apple slices I brought didn’t do much to fill our hungry tummies. And so, the evening ended at the Double D Ranch with two accommodating siblings, two pissy parents, two tired babies, and two quickly devoured pizzas.
And because we make every attempt to learn from our mistakes at the Crumrine house (whether or not we succeed doesn’t matter, it is the trying part that counts), Stephen packed a tasty picnic that we hurriedly ate in the car while driving to the library. I thought we were golden…
But, of course, we weren’t. Our names were not drawn from hat and read aloud as the proud recipient of a doll or book. Henry could not see over the heads of the children. Nor could he hear over the sound of their excited voices as more children received prizes.
And then there was some stupid game meant to ensure that each child did receive a prize, which is where the night gets hairy.
First, let me say that big kids and children who played the game during the first round should not have been front and center when the second round started. And I was irritated. But I was also trying not to swoop in and save my babies—they need to learn to be assertive and do things for themselves, right? However, I could see that the librarian was too overwhelmed to provide any sort of structure, so I swooped. But I was too late. Henry received the last stuffed (and might I add incredibly lame and cheap) library puppy and Wyatt was handed a pink and purple nylon library book tote (which is totally awesome)—let the meltdown begin!
Crying, sobbing meltdown. It wasn’t fair. He wanted a puppy. He had been promised dolls and books. The library had betrayed him. It was pitiful. He was so sad. But it was time to leave.
Hannah: this is a completely normal reaction to disappointment for a four-year old.
Stephen: yes, but it is unacceptable to behave this way in public.
Hannah and Stephen: mean stares.
So we left, dragging both our children crying and yelling and kicking and resisting through the library as other parents smiled in camaraderie and sympathy (or complete horror). Stephen carried Wyatt outside where he promptly ran away down the sidewalk. Henry stayed with me while I checked out books that I wasn’t about to leave behind, even in all the chaos we had created. It was awful and embarrassing and sad. And then we sat in the car for nearly 5 minutes waiting for Wyatt to agree to wear his seat belt, which he finally did but he made damn sure we knew that he was still mad at us. So there!
And the moral of this very long story…I don’t know, do you?
And then there was some stupid game meant to ensure that each child did receive a prize, which is where the night gets hairy.
First, let me say that big kids and children who played the game during the first round should not have been front and center when the second round started. And I was irritated. But I was also trying not to swoop in and save my babies—they need to learn to be assertive and do things for themselves, right? However, I could see that the librarian was too overwhelmed to provide any sort of structure, so I swooped. But I was too late. Henry received the last stuffed (and might I add incredibly lame and cheap) library puppy and Wyatt was handed a pink and purple nylon library book tote (which is totally awesome)—let the meltdown begin!
Crying, sobbing meltdown. It wasn’t fair. He wanted a puppy. He had been promised dolls and books. The library had betrayed him. It was pitiful. He was so sad. But it was time to leave.
Hannah: this is a completely normal reaction to disappointment for a four-year old.
Stephen: yes, but it is unacceptable to behave this way in public.
Hannah and Stephen: mean stares.
So we left, dragging both our children crying and yelling and kicking and resisting through the library as other parents smiled in camaraderie and sympathy (or complete horror). Stephen carried Wyatt outside where he promptly ran away down the sidewalk. Henry stayed with me while I checked out books that I wasn’t about to leave behind, even in all the chaos we had created. It was awful and embarrassing and sad. And then we sat in the car for nearly 5 minutes waiting for Wyatt to agree to wear his seat belt, which he finally did but he made damn sure we knew that he was still mad at us. So there!
And the moral of this very long story…I don’t know, do you?
1 comments
That picture of Henry is so SAD! But totally artful in a way, right? It totally captures the moment and shows the poor kid's pain! I would have cried, too. That shit's hard.
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