And the saga continues...
In effort to get the kids out of the house and away from that blasted Thomas the Train, that somehow has turned into our favorite show (gag), I took the kiddos out to the bounce house around the corner from the house.
I was fiddling with Weston when I saw the Emmy had rounded the corner, toward another inflatable thing. I really didn't think anything of it. I finished doing whatever with Weston, all of a couple of minutes and I realized that Emily was not in the anticipated jumper...or any around them.
I started walking to the other side of the place, Wes on hip, and was met rather quickly by a woman with Emmy in tow. Emmy quickly pointed and identified me.
I was embarrassed that she had wandered off and told someone she was missing her mommy.
Oh...if only.
In a friendly, but judgemental voice, "Oh, she was running around in her panties trying to raid the ice cream bin."
My jaw fell to the floor.
"I just wanted to see who she was paired up with."
(aka...where in the world is this chimpanzee's sorry excuse for a mother??)
I was mortified.
But, I can't blame her for thinking that about me. I'd think the same.
I quickly thanked her and grabbed Emily. In that minute, she wriggled away from me and ran off again toward the ice cream bin. The woman pointed at her again.
I was so upset. How could she do this?? WHY is she trying to put me in the asylum??
Steering her tearfully away from the ice cream, I pushed her with a jumpy thing, thinking I could distract her and then leave after she played another 2 or 3 minutes, avoiding yet another scene. Plus, I needed time to collect myself.
Stewing about the events in my head, I noticed that we were very close to the bathroom...which is just a few feet from the ice cream bin.
She ran off to use the restroom (like a responsible, big girl) and she has trouble getting her shorts up, so she always just kicks them off. Once out of the bathroom, she noticed the ice cream bin. It was unattended, so she thought she could just help herself.
Ok, so maybe I won't drop her off at a fire station on the way home...
We talked about the importance of not running away from Mommy and wearing pants in public.
On to the salon for haircut...
Unfortunately, there is ALWAYS a wait at this place.
Emily was playing with the train setup and Wes was holding onto the sides of it, walking along the edges. A little boy came up and started pushing the train along the tracks. Eventually, he met up with Weston. The little boy was not sensitive to the fact that W was just a baby and not walking without assistance. He started crowding him. I nervously waited for the boy's mother to swoop in and correct her son.
No one.
Perhaps she was dealing with her own underwear-clad, ice cream thief? I'm not judging.
He kept pushing Wes and poor little guy was looking at me like, "what's this kid's problem?? Clobber him already, mom!" When Emily moved in and shouted,
"Hey BOY! Stop bugging Wessy! He's my little brother!"
Tears came to my eyes and the biggest smile to my face.
I moved Weston out of the way and told the boy to watch out for him because he can't walk by himself yet.
I have never been so proud of anything in my life.
Yes! I am her crappy mother and damn proud of it!
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| The BEST big sister in the world, enjoying a special ice cream treat. |
