I blame Kate Gosselin.
And that show Jon and Kate + Eight.
They are the ones that put this idea in my head.
So on a few episodes of that show prior to the divorce and most of the insanity that now follows that family, they introduced the idea of “date days” with your kids. A way to spend some quality time one on one with each kid. I’m sure they didn’t invent it, but as a parent sometimes its hard to think outside the box and it takes watching an idea on tv to get that “aha” moment.
So fast forward about a year and a half to today. I had heard fabulous things about this little children’s theater in Hurst (a neighboring suburb of Arlington) from all my MOMs Club friends. They took their 2 and up kids to these productions and had rave reviews. The seating is all close to the stage, the productions are all put on by kids, there are funny songs & funny dialogue, audience interaction, etc. And best of all tickets are only $5 each.
I decided that I would attempt to take Bree to see “Snow White” (as her fascination of princesses continues to grow) on a Mommy and Daughter date. So I bought the tickets, arranged a babysitter for Bauer and got Bree all excited to see “Snow White” in person.
We stopped at CVS on our way this morning to get some snacks for our theater trip (it is never too early to teach your kid that having some snacks in your purse is just a lot cheaper in the long run). Bree picked out a lollipop and some Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. I got some M&Ms.
We were set. We got through will call line fast and were in our seats about 15 minutes before the show was to start. It was 9:45am and Bree insisted on having her Reese’s immediately. I’m a pushover and said okay…I mean it was a special date afterall.
As a first-timer at this venue, I learned the hard way that shows here don’t necessarily start until everyone that can be seated is….this meant a 10:17 start time…which I knew doomed our stay from the start. But I tried to be optimistic. Bree and I talked, colored, put our name in a raffle, started eating the world’s largest lollipop, and even investigated where the bathroom was. We were busy, but for THIS 3 and a half year old, that busyness was about as much fun as she could handle.
Then the show finally started. Bree loved when the lights would go out and then someone would appear. She loved when “Snow White” was actually on the stage (this is not very much in the first half of the show). She was a little fascinated that the characters were all being played by kids. And she liked when the witch would cackle. But then the movement started…off the chair, on the chair, in mommy’s lap, standing next to mommy’s seat, talking very loudly, covering herself with her blanket, etc.
I knew my gig was up. The only unpredictability about this child is my stubbornness to accept what I know the outcome will be. I keep thinking maybe she’s ready…maybe now that she is closing in on four, we will develop an attention span. Maybe since she loves princesses, she will love to see a theater performance with one in it. Maybe having the one on one attention of me will help her feel like a big girl and she will try her hardest to pay attention.
And then I get mad at myself for having such high expectations…okay, not high, but just unrealistic for my daughter. It doesn’t matter that any other 3 and a half year old could sit through that show. Mine could, but just doesn’t want too. And that has to be okay (with me).
The mantra “live and learn (again)” went through my head as we quickly excused ourselves about half way through the show. At least I’m learning to experiment with cheap things…$10 worth of tickets is an acceptable casualty.
On the way back to the car, I asked Bree what we should do next….
Her answer was “Let’s go someplace else that Bauer can’t go!”
Awesome…well, in the end she did get the point of us having a special date, just her and Mommy, and did feel like a big girl for being on this adventure. She at no point thought she missed out leaving the show early. And she told Sean she loved “Snow White”. She did (when she was on stage).
We ended up at Babies R Us so that Bree could buy some toys for Baby Bennett…she had a good time getting to choose.
And then we met the boys for lunch at Chick-Fil-A and the team was back in business. Good thing too because there were about 8 “Bree meltdowns” at lunch that I did not have the energy for. Sean is such a good dad and partner in this parenting realm. He took the kids after lunch and I went to the TCU game by myself. Yes, it was weird for me too….but oh so WONDERFULLY WEIRD. I watched a quarter of the game and hung out enjoying the amazing weather at the tailgate with my best friends for the rest of the game.
I needed that…
A LOT!
So maybe “date day” with my daughter wasn’t quite what I expected, but neither was my afternoon at the TCU game.
But as usual, it all worked out in such a randomly perfect way!
Oh and no, Bree and I will not be taking in another theater production at the fabulous little children’s theater in Hurst for quite a long time.
I think our next “date day” may involve running laps in the nearby park TOGETHER!
And I have no doubt that it will be just as unpredictably predictable as today’s!
