it's the great letdown, charlie brown
We were headed to Sauvieland, a pumpkin patch, sure to be the hit it was last year. Right? RIGHT? Enter the ominous music; it was a bummer.
Sure we had a good time. The kids looked great and went on a ride around the property, pulled by a tractor.
And I snapped their picture with the pumpkins, something I do every year.
But it just didn't live up to the expectations of our cast and crew.
{Personal disappointment + hungry crying boy + preteen drama queen crying girl = Wavering Sanity.}
Finally I pulled the ripcord - I directed the sobbing children to the car, tromping through the mud, having those icky Motherhood feelings that made me come thisclose to shouting:
(Not so pretty or proud.)
But instead, I turned up the radio, some White Stripes to drown out the disappointed throng. Once I realized, 10 miles later, that Lexi may be somewhat sane again, I turned down the radio and she told me it had been so fabulous last year, so perfect, that it just really hurt her heart (oh yes, she's definitely mine) that it wasn't as good this year. That the hay ride closed early. That her friends weren't around. Soon the sadness gave way to a lesson in low expectations, my personal philosophy for getting through the holidays ahead.
They both dried their eyes and I told them I was so hungry I was gnawing on my arm. They chuckled and soon we were playing the 'gnawing on appendages game' until I found a place to fill empty tummies along the I-5.
I sure hope Halloween proper is a little less stressful. My expectations have been lowered accordingly...
(Here's our Sauvieland pictures from 2006)
Comments
Good job of talking yourself off the ledge. Stephanie saved The Boy from a yelling at last night after he continuously asked us to turn our movie down (which was already at whisper level).
Here is to a more satisfying candy gathering joyfulness on Wed. Please send any tips on Pre-Teen Girl, ours is coming soon...
-Stu
And yet we still go on outings. Because we are insane.
It makes me feel like I failed at something and I hate it.
I hope Halloween is a lot more fun than the pumpkin patch was!
Let's go around our neighborhood together to take some of the crazy out of the chore - we can either make a good time of it or yell in unison.
The pics are great, though man, I get that frustration, totally.
one of our favorite memories of last year was getting to play with lexi and zack.