Today, I felt like one of those moms. You know the ones. They stand up at the PTA meeting or at Little Gym about how little Johnny isn’t being treated fairly and therefore everything must change and other kids must be deprived. “My Johnny isn’t allowed to have soda so no other children should be permitted to have soda.”
Yep, I was kind of like one of those moms. See how you would feel.
I got a notice that my community was hosting an Easter egg hunt on a Saturday at 11am. As is typical for a weekend, I’m struggling to get out of my pajamas and get there in one piece by 11am. I re-read the email about the event:
Easter Egg Hunt
When: Saturday March 27
Where: Pool House
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.Find the Golden eggs and receive a special prize!
Please Note:
– Parent Supervision Required
– Children will be separated into 3 age groups during registration (11-11:15am)
– Limited Parking at the pool house
– Residents ONLY
– Each child should bring a basket
So I assume that the egg hunt starts at 11:15am. I arrive at 11:05am to see plenty of parents and children arriving while hordes of other children are already collecting the limited supply of eggs. I’m thinking these must be the little, little kids that they wanted to go first. Nope. It’s two groups of kids in two separate areas scouring for all the eggs. I walk to one of the areas that’s just been discovered and jumped in just in time to “help” my 3 year old find two plastic eggs.
I am pissed off. I’m furious. I’m saying things like “this is ridiculous.” My son asks me, “Mommy, what’s ridiculous?” Don’t worry about it. I can tell I’m not the only confused parent but I seem to be the only truly annoyed one. That could be because masking my emotions is not one of my strong suits.
I’m not going to make a big deal. I’m not going to be that mom. I’m not going to complain about the community volunteers who spent their time organizing the event for the children. Even when they clearly did a poor job. But I am going to do something about the look of disappointment on my young son’s face.
Disappointment at the Easter Egg Hunt
At his request, we spend a few minutes at the community playground since we are already there. I’m watching him try to have a good time while the mobs of wild kids run up and down and on and off. I hear kids shouting at each other “LOSER” and “BABY”. I’m reminded of how mean kids can be.
He’s standing at the top of the twisty slide looking down at me, saying “Mommy, I’m waiting my turn but no one will let me go.” Do I tell him to just push everyone out of the way like the other kids? No, I can’t always be there to make sure he gets his turn but today I feel like a lioness. “HEY,” I shout to the kids. “There’s a line up there and it’s HIS turn.” Yes, I know. Kids will be kids. But this is my little cub.
Waiting for the slide
Finally, he says “Mommy, let’s just go home.” Not a moment too soon. At this point, it’s 11:25am, only 20 minutes after we arrived. I can’t bear to listen anymore to the mother who keeps yelling at her son, “If you think I’m gonna stand around here all day while you play, you better think again.” God forbid you should take 20 minutes out of your day to engage in a little outdoor playtime with your child.
We went home. My little cub was a holy terror all day. Maybe it was the Easter egg hunt. Maybe not. But I couldn’t stop thinking about the disappointment he must have felt. I promised him another egg hunt. And egg hunt he got. My husband and neighbors got in on the action. We filled about 40 eggs in my backyard. Then we unleashed two children to find them all.
The pictures were worth more than a thousand words.
The First Egg
Batting for eggs
The proud hunters
I think it’s time to put a playground in my backyard too. This lioness will defend her cub as long as she can (or as long as he’ll let me).
28 comments
Aww. You are such a good mom. I love the pictures with such excitement on his face. So precious.
I’d hold the “good mom” comments. The rest of the day was quite a challenge. But in the end, the pictures do say it all!
Aww. You are such a good mom. I love the pictures with such excitement on his face. So precious.
I’d hold the “good mom” comments. The rest of the day was quite a challenge. But in the end, the pictures do say it all!
Good for you =) You’ll be happy to know I’m the coordinator for my neighborhood hunt tomorrow…I’ll let you know Monday night how we do it…fair and square not a sour face in the crowd ~ you can send a “thanks so much for volunteering and some suggestions for how to accomodate such a growing group of kids in our wonderful neighborhood” And if that’s a fail, come to ours next year, guests and family welcome because attendees supply the eggs ahead of time for mass hiding by the committee the day of =) ROAR!
Oh, I love it! I spent years as the Community Watch coordinator so I know most community volunteer jobs are thankless. But I like your suggestion about how to address. Perfect!
That is the hardest! It is so painful to see your child hurting or not feeling included. I have laid awake a lot of nights just wanting to cry about it. You turned the day around, and that is what he will remember! You rock!
Cheryl – you nailed it! You’re right. It is making sure that the memories we create are the ones we want them to remember. I was a 7th grade teacher for a while and I always stuck up for the underdog. I just can’t bear to see kids feeling bad 🙁 Thanks for stopping by!
You made a somewhat crappy day into an amazing memory. Turning the sad into happy is one of those things that make being a mom such a fulfilling experience. And you are sooooo much nicer than I am. I would’ve raised h-e-double-hockey-sticks. You’re a kind soul, whereas I am a loud, opinionated, Italian soul. I need to learn to be more like you in infuriating situations!!! Loved this post so much.
Good for you =) You’ll be happy to know I’m the coordinator for my neighborhood hunt tomorrow…I’ll let you know Monday night how we do it…fair and square not a sour face in the crowd ~ you can send a “thanks so much for volunteering and some suggestions for how to accomodate such a growing group of kids in our wonderful neighborhood” And if that’s a fail, come to ours next year, guests and family welcome because attendees supply the eggs ahead of time for mass hiding by the committee the day of =) ROAR!
Oh, I love it! I spent years as the Community Watch coordinator so I know most community volunteer jobs are thankless. But I like your suggestion about how to address. Perfect!
That is the hardest! It is so painful to see your child hurting or not feeling included. I have laid awake a lot of nights just wanting to cry about it. You turned the day around, and that is what he will remember! You rock!
Cheryl – you nailed it! You’re right. It is making sure that the memories we create are the ones we want them to remember. I was a 7th grade teacher for a while and I always stuck up for the underdog. I just can’t bear to see kids feeling bad 🙁 Thanks for stopping by!
You made a somewhat crappy day into an amazing memory. Turning the sad into happy is one of those things that make being a mom such a fulfilling experience. And you are sooooo much nicer than I am. I would’ve raised h-e-double-hockey-sticks. You’re a kind soul, whereas I am a loud, opinionated, Italian soul. I need to learn to be more like you in infuriating situations!!! Loved this post so much.
I would have been THAT mom, too! You handled it well and what a great idea to do another hunt in your backyard – those pics are precious!!!
And welcome to TMC!!! SO glad you joined us!
Oh I would have DEFINITELY been that mom. And I think you had good reason.
Public places with lots of kids and parents give me anxiety for that reason exactly.
You did a great job! I am your newest follower!!
It looks like you recovered nicely from a rough morning! I love Evan’s smile while he hunted eggs in your yard – so sweet!
I’ve also been meaning to tell you that I love the blog’s new look. Have a great rest of your weekend!
It looks like you recovered nicely from a rough morning! I love Evan’s smile while he hunted eggs in your yard – so sweet!
I’ve also been meaning to tell you that I love the blog’s new look. Have a great rest of your weekend!
I would have been THAT mom, too! You handled it well and what a great idea to do another hunt in your backyard – those pics are precious!!!
And welcome to TMC!!! SO glad you joined us!
So proud of you! That ‘Mama Bear’ thing has only happened to me once so far (Spencer is only 2) and it really surprised me how intense and powerful the feeling was. Do whatever you can for him while he’ll still let you! 🙂
So proud of you! That ‘Mama Bear’ thing has only happened to me once so far (Spencer is only 2) and it really surprised me how intense and powerful the feeling was. Do whatever you can for him while he’ll still let you! 🙂
Oh I would have DEFINITELY been that mom. And I think you had good reason.
Public places with lots of kids and parents give me anxiety for that reason exactly.
You did a great job! I am your newest follower!!
The park is where a persons parenting skills really show. You can always tell how much a parent values manners based on how their child treats the other kids at the park. I see so many older kids at the park that think nothing of pushing smaller kids out of the way instead of waiting their turn it makes me crazy! Ugh, I feel worked up just thinking about it.
I’m so glad your little guy was able to have a positive egg hunting experience.
The park is where a persons parenting skills really show. You can always tell how much a parent values manners based on how their child treats the other kids at the park. I see so many older kids at the park that think nothing of pushing smaller kids out of the way instead of waiting their turn it makes me crazy! Ugh, I feel worked up just thinking about it.
I’m so glad your little guy was able to have a positive egg hunting experience.
Poor little guy! I would have been furious too. All the parks, play areas at the mall, etc. tick me off half the time because parents let their kids treat the little ones like crap and step all over them. However, I was SO impressed at Monkey Joe’s last week (on Glenwood) when a teenage employee held two big kids back at a ladder to let my three year old climb up, even though it took a minute or two. He did it without me even asking!
Great job on turning it around! Looks like he ended up having a blast.
Poor little guy! I would have been furious too. All the parks, play areas at the mall, etc. tick me off half the time because parents let their kids treat the little ones like crap and step all over them. However, I was SO impressed at Monkey Joe’s last week (on Glenwood) when a teenage employee held two big kids back at a ladder to let my three year old climb up, even though it took a minute or two. He did it without me even asking!
Great job on turning it around! Looks like he ended up having a blast.
Aww — I would have been that mom, and I would have been THAT mom on the playground as well. I want to give both of you all a hug!
[…] kids. Not if they were going to turn out like that. Then I did have a child. And as we all know, the lioness fiercely defends her cub. No child of mine is going to be subjected to public schools where we have no idea nor control over […]