Some Things Are Worth Remembering

She won't remember that I was paralyzed with fear the first time she demonstrated that she could hold her breath until she passed out.

She won't remember that I refused to nurse in public, instead opting to hide out in fitting rooms when out and about.

She's not going to recall that time I got her head completely and hopelessly stuck in a too-small shirt and had to cut it off. The shirt. Not the head. Obviously.

She won't know that I was hugely grateful that she didn't walk until she was 13-months old or that I did absolutely nothing to encourage nor discourage her first steps.

She won't remember that time I forgot to bring snacks during an outing and she had to suffer through a long afternoon with just some terribly-not-healthy McDonald's french fries.

She won't know the number of times I have second-guessed and doubted and second-guessed again the decision to let her decide to eat meat when she wants to, rather than letting her decide to stop eating meat if she wanted to.

She won't remember how uncomfortable she was in dance class when the teacher didn't treat her as well as she deserved, or that it was my fault for not picking up on the issue sooner.

She probably won't recall that I was genuinely frustrated when she started to read at the age of 3, or how I wished she would just slow down a bit when she started really reading at 4.

She won't remember that I realized a few moments too late that she had gotten too fast and too smart for me to just prance through a corn maze and expect that she would stay within my line of vision, or how I panicked when I truly lost her for a few minutes.

But she may just remember that time she ran through the corn maze for over 30 minutes, successfully hiding and dodging and escaping me at every turn. She may just remember that she fell over in a heap of giggles several times and that she pretty much had the best. time. ever.

And even if she doesn't remember that day in the corn maze, I will.

Halloween Round-Up And Then Some

We emerged from ScareHouse laughing hysterically, just in time to run into Scott (one of the owners). I had abandoned Mr. Husband and Alexis for a few hours so I could get one last dose of Halloween Awesome, and it had most definitely lived up to expectations.

As I stood chatting with the small group of people I adore, we noticed them. Just outside of the ScareHouse exit, four girls sat on the curb. It was the same four girls we had seen in line and wondered about their age. They looked to be maybe 10, most definitely the youngest anywhere in sight. ScareHouse specifically warns that it might be too intense for anyone under the age of 13, so we all wondered if they really were that tough. They were with some adults, though, so whatever.

As they sat on the curb and we stood chatting, bits and pieces of their conversation with ScareHouse staff started to drift through the air. It took only minutes to learn that they were sobbing and crying and generally miserable after having taken one of the emergency escape routes out of the first of the three haunts. The parents they were with were still inside, having let the girls go outside by themselves while they finished their grand tour.

As the minutes passed, three of the four began to recover. The fourth girl, however, was STILL sobbing a good ten minutes after having walked out of ScareHouse. How much do you want to bet that she'll grow up to be THAT woman who refuses to do haunted houses? Traumatized for life, that one.

********************************************************************

There's an article about Pittsburgh Mommyblogs over at Pop City which features a few of my most favoritest people. It mentions a little something about Christmas Crazy, which will be starting in force sometime this week. You've been warned.

********************************************************************

I think it's illegal to post on Halloween without including some photos of a cute kid in costume and fun pumpkins. Consider me a law-abiding citizen.

(If you hadn't already figured out that I'm not quite right in the head, there you go. Exhibits 1-4 or so. You're welcome.)

Is Not Wanting To Be A Licensed Character A Sign Of Maturity? Or Just AWESOME?

Halloween 2006--The Screamapiller (Also the only costume I ever got to pick.)
Halloween 2007--Funshine Bear
Halloween 2008--Minnie Mouse

Halloween 2009--Violet

Halloween 2010--A Witch********************************************************

P.S. There's a new giveaway going on over here.