The Best Laid Plans
in Giggles on July 9, 2016
I know I posted yesterday…but life often presents scenarios that are simply too much for me to keep to myself. Also, this blog is cathartic for me and is cheaper than therapy. As most of you know, my daughter spent last week in California.
She came home last night.
We all knew she was coming home. It was not a surprise POP-IN visit…nope…we all knew she was coming. There was also a new family movie that hit theaters yesterday called, The Secret Life of Pets. My entire family was buzzing about this movie. We could not wait to go and see it. So, earlier this week I began to make plans.
You see, I had in my mind a vision: One that included excited children, a happy husband, an eager Nana, and one triumphant Mom.
Pause.
There’s an old saying that goes something like, “The best laid plan of mice and men often go awry.” After last night, I can totally vouch for that. Apparently being a thirteen-year-old girl on vacation in one of the most beautiful destinations in the country is incredibly taxing. Emma hit the front door in a mood that left all of us wondering if somewhere, someone was missing a falling house and some ruby red slippers. Jeff picked her up from the airport, after having an absolutely TERRIBLE week at work, so I’m sure there was some slight projection going on there…but they both walked into a quite cheerful environment. It did not help.
Her grandmother–Jeff’s mom (aka Nana) was there, both of Emma’s brothers were excitedly waiting to see her, even the dogs were happy. However, we were not really greeted with, “Hi! I’m so glad to see you.” But rather with, “Ugh…I’m ssoooooo tired….why is everyone here? Where are we going? Why do we have to leave RIGHT NOW…I just got home….ugh…..”
Enter Johnny Rain Cloud, stage right.
We drove the twenty minutes to the movie theater with the kids in the back of the suburban simply taunting each other: “I’m not touching you…I’m simply sitting here.” “MOM! He’s LOOKING at me!!” “No, I’m not. I happen to be looking out of her window.” I cannot leave out my cranky husband who was berating the traffic at every interval. “Why are there SO many cars? Why can’t people just drive…UGH!!” Well, it was 6:00 on a Friday night…in Houston traffic…the fourth largest city in the nation. Just a thought.
My best laid plans of a family fun night at the movies had most assuredly gone awry. In fact, by the time we arrived at the theater, my mother-in-law and myself were really the only ones still in a decent mood. I think she was laughing at my misfortune, seeing as how she has already lived through this stage of parenting.
I would like to say that while we were at the movies, things went more smoothly…they did not. In the parking lot, my boys attempted to get into a sword fight with Elliott’s crutches. So I was left to break up this slight altercation that left one of my children crying from laughter, while another was hopping around like a deranged pogo stick because he is still casted on his left leg. Welcome to my life.
I will say, The Secret Life of Pets was FANTASTIC!!! I loved it!! I want to go back and see it again today…ALONE. The aftermath between me and Emma in the parking lot at the restaurant was an even better show, though. For the record, I can clear a room faster than any person you will ever meet. As my family was exiting the vehicle, I nabbed my sweet baby girl for a little heart-to-heart chat. My mother-in-law and my husband both turned to look at me, mouths open, but then wisely suppressed smiles, and ushered the boys into the restaurant.
I merely had to explain to her…in words she understood…that the unwarranted, unmerited, and UNWANTED attitude she had been displaying for the last few hours was stopping NOW. We were all very glad to see her…in fact, one might even say we missed her; however, we were all quickly changing that opinion due to her extreme lack of concern for anyone else’s feelings except her own. We proceeded into the restaurant, had our meal, and went home. She pouted, but was blessedly quiet.
Here’s the kicker: my daughter was mad…not just a little mad, but a junior-version-of-me-spitting-fire-mad. Mad. But, when she was ready for bed, she still wanted and expected a kiss goodnight from me. Why is that? I am her mother. We have a bond that cannot be broken by temper tantrums or distance. She can throw her fits…and she throws some whoppers…and still know that she is safe in my arms at the end of the day.
My plans went to Hell in a hand-basket last night. Nothing went the way I had imagined. Honestly, it was as much work to wrangle all of my kids and my husband into a movie theater last night as it was when my kids were toddlers. Next time I go to the movies, I’m only taking the Nana.
Yet, I will still make grand plans for family fun nights. I will still have a fairytale night envisioned in my mind, and the actual night will turn into an episode of America’s Most Wanted…but I will still try. You should, too. Don’t give up on trying to do things with your family. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn’t. Either way, the memories made along the way will last a lifetime.
Here’s hoping your plans today do not go awry.
-Dallas
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