Kermie has to go to trainings every now and then for work and this week happened to be one of those weeks he was going to be gone. The kids miss him like crazy when he's gone, it's super hard being a mom of two by yourself for four consecutive days (kudos to those single moms that do it day in and day out--you are a superhero for sure), and spending the night/day away to slow down sounded nice to me, therefore, taking a day and to stay with Kermie while he was away for work was the plan.
The kids and I headed up to Louisville right after school on Tuesday. Ella was very excited to be staying in a hotel and both of the kids were even more excited to see their daddy! When we arrived, supper was on the immediate to-do-list! We headed over to Fourth Street Live and ate dinner at Hard Rock.
This is where the word "patience" in the post title comes in to play. Grayson is at a stage right now where he insists on being independent and will do any and everything to make sure he gets to do things his big sister gets to do. So, simple things like eating become a huge ordeal. Instead of splitting a hamburger (or any other food item), he wants the whole thing... instead of mommy and daddy helping hold his drink, he wants to hold it by himself (he doesn't understand that you don't tip a cup with a straw to drink it yet)... instead of mommy helping feed him, he wants the "big" fork to do it himself. And, so you see, mass chaos starts immediately! These kind of situations are easier handled at home, but in public we are put in a situation where the right parenting decision isn't so easy to come by. Do you give in to his fit to keep him quiet, do you get up and leave immediately, or do you refuse to give him his way and let the screaming begin? Any tips would be great. Ella never threw these kinds of fits at his age so I am at a loss! On top of Grayson's need to be Mr. Independent, Ella was a tad exhausted (a combination of a full day at Nana's and recovering from her sickness), so she refused to eat and wanted to lay down on the seat to rest. Kermie thoroughly enjoyed his meal, while mine on the other hand was not so wonderful. Trying to keep positive and patient, we paid for our meal and headed back to the hotel and a quick stop by the river!
By the time we got back to the hotel, everyone was totally exhausted and ready to call it a day. Both kids fell asleep fairly fast, but it did not last long. At around midnight, Ella's fever came back and her coughing started back (non-stop coughing). Grayson woke up around 3 am screaming for juice, chocolate milk, and Diego. And, because they did not eat at dinner, both kids by this point were starving! I felt bad for Kermie because he was there for work which meant he still had to wake up at 6:30 to head to a meeting. On the other hand, we had to deal with the chaos in the hotel room before we woke anyone else up. This meant lots of patience on mommy and daddy's part. It's hard not to get totally irritated with the kids and each at this early in the morning. Kermie headed to a gas station to grab something little for the kids to eat and drink. This adventure took him nearly an hour due to parking garage complications. In the meantime, the kids and I sat in the window watching planes, cars, and boats pass by at 3 in the morning. When Kermie did arrive back, the kids got their snack and quickly fell back to sleep!
Finally, morning arrived! Kermie headed off to his meeting, I gave the kids their bath, got myself ready, and headed to Panera for breakfast. Getting the stroller into Panera was a story in itself, but we finally ordered and sat down to a very yummy breakfast! The kids enjoyed it as much as I did, but once again, Grayson wanted to be Mr. Independent! He wanted the delicious Blueberry Muffin and Four Cheese Egg Souflee all to himself!
After breakfast, we walked a couple more blocks to the Louisville Science Center. Here, the kids had a total blast! I enjoyed it too because the only other times I've been I have been with lots and lots of fourth graders! Field trips, while great, stress me out completely! It was so nice getting to explore with my own kiddos and watching them learn new things! Not to mention, Ella's sweet comment made me even more thankful to have taken them there this morning. "Mommy, I would have never guessed we'd get to go to the museum today!"
After the science center, we headed back to the hotel, got the van, and picked up Kermie at his meeting to go to lunch. By this point both kids were sleeping, so he and I pulled into Sonic, rolled down the windows, and enjoyed a nice, breezy lunch together. Those are always the best!
When it was time to drop him back off, the kids were in tears and screaming which made me happy and sad that we had come. I think they would have cried for him most of the day if we hadn't come, but I hate to make them say goodbye more than once. Other than the rough night, I definitely enjoyed my day and am very thankful to have a job that allows me to take personal days like this one. And, one thing I know for sure is that Kermie is going to enjoy SLEEPING in a hotel room by himself tonight!
The kids and I took our time getting home. Both kiddos were feeling good, minus the agonizing cough. We were in no hurry to get back, so we stopped for milkshakes and decided to stop at playgrounds along the way. I think we all enjoyed the rest of the afternoon with no time constraints or plans!
