Makin’ a scene

Yesterday my Percy made a scene in public.  I LOVE it when he does that (insert sarcasm here).  This time it was in front of his older brother’s ENTIRE preschool assembly.  This meant that a large group of people trained in early childhood education got to witness my laissez-faire mom-ness.  Oh goody!

Percy has a hard time when we drop Thomas off at school.  He doesn’t handle transition well and dislikes the quick running in and out of the church building.  He also gets VERY upset when he is not allowed to stay and play with the older children and all the wonderful toys.  Many a day I drag him outside kicking and screaming while he drags his feet and claws the doorframe.  I have my own way of handling these incidents.  For example, I usually ingnore the tantrums and simply let them run their course.  I try to remain calm so as not to escalate the emotion of the situation.  Also, I have taken to using the stroller because if I carry him I run the risk of droppage (yes, I know, not a real word) when he twists furiously… and then of course he would run away.   

Yesterday was a stroller day and we were running late for school.  I had to take Thomas straight to chapel which was in a special location… a big open room with glass doors and windows that we call the “fish bowl”.  I left Percy directly behind me, stroller-ed up, in the hall as I passed Thomas off to his teacher.  Leaning into the room I bent inconspicuously (or so I thought) down to whisper to her.  I then heard ”Ma’am?”  and realized EVERYONE was looking at me.  I further realized Percy had flipped his stroller over while still strapped in and was being assisted by two nice mothers who also were lucky enough to witness my shame.  All the preschool teachers looked horrified for poor Percy, hands on their face, murmuring “Poor baby!”  And what did I do?  NOTHING.  I froze.  First of all, I was not worried.  I am used to this behavior from him.  It is what he does.  And he is tough.  Second of all, with all those eyes one me I felt the need to explain the situation.  “He does this a lot”, I said.  OH, you should have seen the look on those teachers’ faces!   And to top it all off, my little “oh big deal”  comment had very effectively disrupted chapel and ensured that all focus was completely zoned in on my little drama.  Talk about making a bad situation worse.  

It got better from there.  An attempt was made to resume chapel.  I decided to redeem myself by acting concerned.  “OH, poor BABY!” I cooed as I leaned down to hug Percy who was by then wailing.  He would not be calmed.   We were still outside the fishbowl and I felt a hundred or so eyes on me as his cries grew louder.  I attempted to pick him up, but as soon as the stroller straps were loose he lurched out of my arms and ran up to the glass, flattening his face and hands against it and screaming to be let in.  (“How very Oliver Twist of him” I thought to myself wryly.)    The feelings that rose inside me, i.e.- utter humiliation and a desperate need to hide, felt familiar… like that dream where I am riding the school bus and suddenly realize I am in my underwear!!  I scooped Percy up with one hand, grabbed the stroller with the other, and with arms full and head held high tried to open up the door while also attempting to salvage as much of my remaining dignity as possible.  Percy rewarded me by kicking and screaming while dragging his feet and clawing the doorframe.   

We finally made it to our car and I looked at my watch.  9:15AM.  I wonder… do I have enough time to make ”I-really-am-a-good-mother” bribery cookies for the ENTIRE preschool staff before pickup?  But that would mean I would have to take Percy in the grocery store to get ingredients first…

*sigh*