Chelsea Kaplan’s Musings About Life... After Birth
Posted by Chelsea on September 21, 2007
Multiple members of he Momtourage and I signed up for a theater arts class that began today and will continue to meet each Friday for the next couple of months or so. Here’s a description of the class:
Celebrate autumn with this multi-sensory play experience using stories, songs and movement associated with fall themes such as pumpkins, leaves and farm animals.
“Dude, I’m worried about him in class tomorrow,” I said to my husband last night.
“Why?”
“Um, two words: circle time”
“Oh,” he said, wincing. “Good luck with that one.”
My fears were confirmed this afternoon. All the other kids merrily (for the most part) sat in the circle and listened to story time, and had no problems following directions. My kid ran around the circle, as if someone imaginary friend was playing “duck duck goose” with him. Once he spotted a piano in the corner (thankfully, it was closed), he ran over to it and tried to pry it open - all while a group song was being sung. Coloring time captured his attention, but when it came time to give up his crayon, he was not psyched at all. With about 10 minutes left in the class, he began wailing for milk, bolted for the door, figured out how to open it, and ran out into the hall while the other kids were all receiving apple hand stamps. I felt like I deserved a hand stamp that read “Mom who cannot control her nutball child”.
I was trying to adhere to my “I do not negotiate with terrorists” policy and not to give into my kid’s milk demands, but Momtourage member Alison wisely told me to just go to the theater arts center’s cafe and get him some. Once I did, he was fine. It was the right advice. “Everyone has bad days,” Momtourage member Jessica said to me after she joined us in the cafe. I nodded in agreement, unsure of who was having a worse one, my son or me. I felt like crying and calling my husband to tell him how much I can’t stand our kid.
After the class, Momtourage member Jen and her mom, who had joined us for the class, came into the cafe, and came over to me.
“Oh, God, I hope he does better next time,” I said. “I just hate being the one with the problem child.”
“Let me tell you, I have taught preschool for over 20 years, and that kid is not a problem child,” Jen’s Mom said.
My eyes widened. “Really? You promise?”
“He’s just all boy, that’s it,” she explained, nonchantly but in a totally caring, compassionate way. “He’s a boy - that’s what boys do. I don’t mean to generalize gender, but at that age, it’s usually true. Most boys his age are like that - you really shouldn’t worry about him.”
Perhaps it was her professional expertise or maybe it was because she is a seasoned mom, but hearing this from her - even though so many other people have said the same thing to me on other occasions - was exactly what I needed at that moment. I suddenly felt OK, and no longer wanted to cry. I believed her.
We all wheeled over to California Tortilla for lunch, and then back to our cars, packing everyone into their car seats to head home for nap time. Momtourage member Alicia and I praised Alison’s twins for their great behavior in the class.
“You ladies get the gold stars for best behavior today,” I sang. “And coming from the worst behaved, we really feel confident in our recognition of it!”
Alison’s mother-in-law, who had also joined us for the class to give Alison an extra pair of hands, said, “So, there’s room for improvement for next week! There’s only one way to go!” This last shot of positivity from the Grandmomtourage was the final vaccine I needed in the treatment of my mothering-ability insecurity, not to mention my concerns regarding my kid’s sanity.
It’s the Momtourage that keeps me sane nearly every day, and even though they continued to do so today, I know that today’s the real award for best behavior goes to Jen’s mom and Alison’s mother-in-law, who will from this point forward be affectionately labeled the Grandmomtourage.
Ladies, you can hang with us anytime. In fact, will you....please?
Subscribe to The Momtourage’s regular features
Click on the icon below to get The Momtourage™ content updates through your feed reader whenever we update our site.
Up There With Naptime
My Current Obsessions
Elephant and Piggie books by Mo Willems
Willems (of "Knuffle Bunny" fame) is this generation's Dr. Seuss. Trust me.
The Youth As We Know it products from Bliss
Most knocked-up gals glow, but when I was pregnant with #2, my skin was crap-tastic. These products whipped it back into shape, and now it's downright radiant.
Juno CD
What’s just as charming as last year’s indie hit “Juno” (and Michael Cera, who stars in the film)? The movie's soundtrack, darlings. My favorite track: Sonic Youth's cover of The Carpenters' "Superstar".
Recent Entries
- Do something good - in the name of shoes!
- Breast Cancer Awareness Month Giveaway!
- Set your radios!
- Monday Mom Must-Have: Ouidad Krly Kids products
- The most shocking revelation EVER!
- Happy Half-Birthday, Little Bro!
- Bribery is everything
- Monday Mom Must-Have: A weekend away with your husband
- Set your radios and enter to win our latest giveaway!
- Monday Mom Must-Have: Whitney English Vinyl Stickers
Archives
By Category
- Ask the Experts
- Mother's Day
- Blog stuff
- Life in the 'Hood
- Beauty
- Books
- Celebrities
- Contests and Giveaways
- Dads
- DC Stuff
- Decorating
- Election 2008
- Environmental Awareness
- Fashion
- Food
- Funny Stuff
- Gear
- Gifts
- Health and Safety
- Holidays
- In the News
- Interesting Articles
- Kidding Around
- Monday Mom Must-Haves
- Momtourage
- My Boys
- New Baby
- New York City
- Opinions
- Parents Who Rock
- Pets
- Politics
- Pop Culture Commentary
- Pregnancy
- Radio Appearances
- Rants
- Shopping
- Stuff for Baby
- Television Commentary
- The Madness of Motherhood
- Travel


I have two boys who are both generally very well-behaved but Grandmomotourage is totally right. And at almost two, sitting quietly listening to a story is not going to happen.