In other parts of the country it may not be unusual to see a family with 3 kids under the age of 4, but in Portland, Oregon you are more likely to see a couple with 3 dogs than 3 kids -much less 3 little kids. Keeping that in mind, I have had some very interested social experiences with my children in public. Tonight was just another one for the books.
Tonight was Ryan's first basketball game in the CPA League that he plays in every year. Most times we are unable to go to the games because they are later in the evening and my kiddies are already in bed. Although my gut instinct was to say "no" to the game tonight (for fear of misbehavior on my boys' part), I decided that since the game was earlier than usual it would be fun. We walked into The Hoop (a local basketball gym) and immediately I was filled with nostalgia of my basketball playing days and became excited to watch Ryan's upcoming game. We sat down on the "bleachers" - basically just 3 risers on the sideline - and I was pleased to see 3 other wives of players on Ryan's team - 2 with children. The boys sat down quietly on the bleachers and the women and I all pleasantly chatted, introduced ourselves and our children, and I began thinking, "Maybe my gut instinct was wrong, maybe my boys will be great!" And as soon as that thought crossed my mind, my biggest fear came true: Brayden and Landon's alter-egos - Thing 1 and Thing 2 - emerged. Suddenly my boys were jumping down the bleachers, running up and down the sidelines, going onto the court, yelling "I want to shoot the ball", and the bathroom, OH the bathroom! You'd have thought Mickey Mouse himself was in that darn bathroom with as often as they needed to go. And then I began to feel it: the stares. The oh-my-gosh-how-and-why-do-you-ever-go-out-in-public stares and I realized that those 3 women I had met 30 minutes earlier were now painting a very different picture of me and my children. Not nice and polite. Wild and crazy. Double wild and double crazy.
Thankfully, the game eventually ended and we high-tailed it outta there. Safe and sound in the car with the kids all locked up in their car seats I looked into the rear view mirror at their little faces and realized it's kind of fun to be wild and crazy - I enjoy the spunk and zest that my boys have for life and being a part of the Freak Show just comes with the territory.
My future b-baller - he looks so innocent :)
Here is Charlotte - sitting quietly, happy as can be, enjoying her crazy brothers and the game!
10 comments:
All I can say is you are not alone. Perhaps we should get together and make it a true freak show. I think people have one of two reactions to people like us,1. Boy does she have her hands full followed by, "would you like some help" with whatever task I am currently trying to tackle which is always three times more difficult than it should be because of the three kids or 2. Stupid girl! Why would anyone have that many kids? Funny thing is . . I wouldn't trade them for anything. by the way . .congrats to you on the whole potty training thing. Make sure to check our blog in about a year when Dallas finally decides to attempt that milestone.
I glad all of our children will be perfectly behaved little angels that never act out, especially in public, and make everyone think "Wow they've really figured it out" or "You know 8 kids doesn't look so bad when they do it." They will say please and thank you, they will never do anything we don't want them to etc. I guess not everyone can be us. Its good to see Ryan gets to play ball up there. I'm already looking forward to the Turkey Bowl in a couple of months. Will you guys be in Boise for Thanksgiving I forget?
Maybe one of those women that you met at the game was the same one you ran into at Costco when you were 8 months pregnant with Charlotte and Landon crashed landed the shopping cart into his head. You know, the one that gave you the, "Are you sure you should be having another one when you can't manage the ones you have," look. :)
You know we've all been there (wait, some of us are still there!). Recently I was in a store and some "helpful" lady told me that I should get one of those backpack leashes for my boys. Do you know the ones I'm talking about? It's a backpack that the child wears and it is connected to a leash. It took all I had to just politely smile.
Like mother like sons! For some reason the trip to Idaho Falls our senior year came flashing back as I read your story, not to mention the ride out to Vallivue the summer before our senior year for summer league. Yes, I can see where your boys get their wild and spunky side! :)
I don't know why Paul thinks we will have perfectly behaved kids when he is their Daddy.... :)
i always get a great laugh out of your posts! thanks for being so real...thats why i love ya. it was so great to talk with you last week or the week before who really keeps track of those things anymore! take care you leader of 'the freak show'.
It's true we all have those moments, some more often than others (just wait until Charlotte joins the freak show), that's when it gets even better. Even here in good ol' Rexburg where babies are popping out every minute, there is bound to be somebody, somewhere that has the look and sometimes the guts to say, "so you're done right?!" (with the look like, i sure hope so, you are a disgrace to the community with them). Oh well, think what they may, I love my kids and wouldn't trade them for anything freak show and all! :) Have fun at future games (haha)
I remember standing in line at Target when I was 8 months pregnant with Bronson. Nalani was throwing a total fit because she dropped her piece of gum on the floor. The checker looked at me and said (in a really snotty voice), "So are you done after this?" I was dumbfounded, hormonal, and a bit grouchy myself having to shop with grouchy kids. I looked right back at her and asked if she was the "birth control police". She pretty much shut up after that. You are not the only "freak show" in town my dear!
Thanks everyone for sharing your "freak show" stories! I'm glad to hear that I'm in good company! :)
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