Anticipation: I have been super excited about this weekend all month. I know, hard to believe considering it’s Halloween weekend, my most hated holiday. But we had great plans on Friday for the Family Fall Festival at church, fall crafts with friends Sunday and Mac’s birthday on Monday. I eagerly picked up the boys from school and we headed home completely excited about starting the fun in just a few short hours. Mac was ready for the ‘joumpy house’! Then we got home and it all fell apart. Mac had one melt down after another, being extremely rude. He was given multiple chances to turn it around, but to make a long story short, he didn’t and therefore lost his privilege to go to the Fall Festival. We couldn’t punish Patrick, so he was allowed to go. Daddy stayed with Mac, Mommy took Patrick.
Disappointment #1: Can’t go as a family. I LOVE family outings. I love to be in public with Shannon. I love to watch him interact with our friends and think He’s mine! I love to be out with our kids. I love to watch them with their friends and see the joy on their faces as they have fun. And now we wouldn’t be going all together. Okay, I can handle this. My friends will still be there, Patrick will still have fun.
Disappointment #2: Mac won’t get his candy. Mac finally asked this year about Trick or Treating. I explained what it is, and he asked, “Can we do that?? I want candy!” After we had the discussion of Halloween, I explained about the Fall Festival and that he would receive candy then. He was sooo excited to get candy!
Disappointment #3: Patrick wouldn’t play any of the games. He literally clung to my legs refusing to even try anything. How hard or scary is it to throw a ball into a can? Or a bean bag into a hole? Really? I forced him to fish. I held the pole next to his clinched fist…I threw the balls into the cans, well attempted to. So, he got a package of popcorn and a Swiss roll. Despite his friends encouraging him to join them, I still just heard, “I want to go home.” Before we left, we did find one thing he would do…a craft. He made a pumpkin and loved coloring it (along with his hands while I was busy emailing Daddy) with markers.
The Nut with his two treats from the whole evening...
Despite my disappointments, it still ended up okay. We got to leave early (it was mostly waiting in lines anyway and several kids there had dressed up, much to my chagrin) and head home to Daddy a little early. I’m learning that even if things don’t turn out the way I had anticipated, all might not be lost! 🙂 And hey, we still have two more big things this weekend!!
**Update: Mac was upset the night of, but his behavior was much improved the next two days. He’s accepted the facts and is now excited to go next year…