The Good:
Joshua's friend, Caitlin, invited him to a teddy bear picnic today at her church. Everyone brought a blanket to spread on the floor and their favorite bear and ate hotdogs and chips. Then, they made a flower and flower pot craft, decorated and ate a cookie, sang and danced. The hotdog, craft and cookie were big hits with Joshua; the singing and dancing, not so much. He didn't want to go onto the dance floor, he didn't want to shake a maraca, he didn't want to stand, he wanted to sit on my lap. He finally started moving around a little, found a basketball and a friend and then had fun. He and his friend took turns shooting hoops and chasing each other around the room. Caitlin, the great entertainer that she is, danced on stage with the teenage girls. Joshua then got his turn honking the bulb horn, and Oh Boy!, did he have fun then!
Next, we got Joshua's haircut. He did such a good job, I was very proud of him. He sat in the chair by himself, he didn't have to hold my hand, he talked to the lady, he smiled, he laughed, he let her use the blow dryer. After the haircut, he took her into the play area and showed her all the toys and how they worked. He has come along way from sitting on my lap, refusing to wear a cape and screaming the entire time.
It being Saturday, it was time for our weekly trip to McDonalds. If McDonalds knows one thing, it's how to market to kids. Gotta get those Happy Meal toys. I really can't complain too much though, Joshua will agree to almost anything if a Happy Meal is involved.
The promise and delivery of a Happy Meal is how we ended up at the mall next. Davey Jones pirate Happy Meal toy in hand, Joshua followed me through the entire women's clothing section and was rather agreeable. He "helped" me pick out some tops and told me I looked beautiful in all of them as I tried them on. We then went to his clothing department and, luckily, he can't read clothing sizes yet...so, ummm, none of the shirts that came with toys were his size.
After such a successful and pleasant shopping experience, we couldn't leave the mall without going to the children's play area. It was so crowded that I could barely find a place to stand. Joshua didn't care though. He ran...and ran fast. He had numerous near misses and one head-on collision, from which he just stood up and kept on running. I really think he is in training for a BCS game (notice that I didn't specify ACC or SEC, we'll have to wait and see). Anyway, Joshua played and ran the entire time we were there. He can now jump onto the whistle, the baseball, the basketball...still can't get on the soccer ball or goals, but he tried. He also talked to a few other kids! It doesn't seem all that long ago that he would drag me saying "Mommy, come with me..." or not play at all.
The Bad:
Just some minor irritations about the children's play area in the mall. 1) There is a size limit. If you can't fit through the little door, you shouldn't be playing there; 2) The mall and all the other parents are not babysitters. You are not supposed to leave your too tall children in the play area while you are shopping; 3) Parents, watch your own children. I saw a too tall boy climb on the top of the slide and scoot over until he was almost above the entrance. I also saw a little girl push another little girl off of the bat. The dad of the pushee did say something to the pusher but the pusher's parent was no where in sight...that I know of...if the parent was in sight, the parent sure didn't take action.
The Ugly:
In the play area, I also saw a girl and a boy almost come to blows. I thought it became a little heated for a couple of 5 or 6 year olds. Not sure who ran into who, but the next thing I know they are pushing each other back and forth...Luckily, the mom of the boy came to the rescue. The parent of the girl was no where in sight...she was probably the big sister of the pusher mentioned above.
Not sure why, but I find it hard to say something to children in these situations, especially when the child isn't mine. Would I have done something if the two kids did start hitting each other or would I have stood there looking around hoping one of their parents would notice? I know I wouldn't have told the pushee "excuse me, but that was not a nice thing to do" like the pushee's dad did if she had pushed Joshua. I've never told a strange child to stop, don't do that, that wasn't nice or anything else.
Anyway, after all we did today, Joshua was still willing to get a few things from the grocery store so I gave him 2 quarters for the sticker machine...He got a Spongebob and a Patrick sticker so today was the best day ever.
Joshua's friend, Caitlin, invited him to a teddy bear picnic today at her church. Everyone brought a blanket to spread on the floor and their favorite bear and ate hotdogs and chips. Then, they made a flower and flower pot craft, decorated and ate a cookie, sang and danced. The hotdog, craft and cookie were big hits with Joshua; the singing and dancing, not so much. He didn't want to go onto the dance floor, he didn't want to shake a maraca, he didn't want to stand, he wanted to sit on my lap. He finally started moving around a little, found a basketball and a friend and then had fun. He and his friend took turns shooting hoops and chasing each other around the room. Caitlin, the great entertainer that she is, danced on stage with the teenage girls. Joshua then got his turn honking the bulb horn, and Oh Boy!, did he have fun then!
Next, we got Joshua's haircut. He did such a good job, I was very proud of him. He sat in the chair by himself, he didn't have to hold my hand, he talked to the lady, he smiled, he laughed, he let her use the blow dryer. After the haircut, he took her into the play area and showed her all the toys and how they worked. He has come along way from sitting on my lap, refusing to wear a cape and screaming the entire time.
It being Saturday, it was time for our weekly trip to McDonalds. If McDonalds knows one thing, it's how to market to kids. Gotta get those Happy Meal toys. I really can't complain too much though, Joshua will agree to almost anything if a Happy Meal is involved.
The promise and delivery of a Happy Meal is how we ended up at the mall next. Davey Jones pirate Happy Meal toy in hand, Joshua followed me through the entire women's clothing section and was rather agreeable. He "helped" me pick out some tops and told me I looked beautiful in all of them as I tried them on. We then went to his clothing department and, luckily, he can't read clothing sizes yet...so, ummm, none of the shirts that came with toys were his size.
After such a successful and pleasant shopping experience, we couldn't leave the mall without going to the children's play area. It was so crowded that I could barely find a place to stand. Joshua didn't care though. He ran...and ran fast. He had numerous near misses and one head-on collision, from which he just stood up and kept on running. I really think he is in training for a BCS game (notice that I didn't specify ACC or SEC, we'll have to wait and see). Anyway, Joshua played and ran the entire time we were there. He can now jump onto the whistle, the baseball, the basketball...still can't get on the soccer ball or goals, but he tried. He also talked to a few other kids! It doesn't seem all that long ago that he would drag me saying "Mommy, come with me..." or not play at all.
The Bad:
Just some minor irritations about the children's play area in the mall. 1) There is a size limit. If you can't fit through the little door, you shouldn't be playing there; 2) The mall and all the other parents are not babysitters. You are not supposed to leave your too tall children in the play area while you are shopping; 3) Parents, watch your own children. I saw a too tall boy climb on the top of the slide and scoot over until he was almost above the entrance. I also saw a little girl push another little girl off of the bat. The dad of the pushee did say something to the pusher but the pusher's parent was no where in sight...that I know of...if the parent was in sight, the parent sure didn't take action.
The Ugly:
In the play area, I also saw a girl and a boy almost come to blows. I thought it became a little heated for a couple of 5 or 6 year olds. Not sure who ran into who, but the next thing I know they are pushing each other back and forth...Luckily, the mom of the boy came to the rescue. The parent of the girl was no where in sight...she was probably the big sister of the pusher mentioned above.
Not sure why, but I find it hard to say something to children in these situations, especially when the child isn't mine. Would I have done something if the two kids did start hitting each other or would I have stood there looking around hoping one of their parents would notice? I know I wouldn't have told the pushee "excuse me, but that was not a nice thing to do" like the pushee's dad did if she had pushed Joshua. I've never told a strange child to stop, don't do that, that wasn't nice or anything else.
Anyway, after all we did today, Joshua was still willing to get a few things from the grocery store so I gave him 2 quarters for the sticker machine...He got a Spongebob and a Patrick sticker so today was the best day ever.
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