In middle school, I was an avid Dr. Phil watcher and if I wasn't going to play rehearsals or basketball practice, then I was usually doing my homework with Dr. Phil McGraw giving his advice in the background. Knowing that I would most likely be a mom someday, I stored-up the parenting tips he offered and knew that in the future, they might come in handy.
Once he told a story about his wife, Robin, going grocery shopping and on her way to the check-out with a cart full of food, her son had a huge temper tantrum because he didn't get what he wanted. Instead of pushing through the screaming and crying in order to finish her shopping, she left the cart in the middle of the store and went home.
Even though I avoid the grocery store by ordering my weekly shopping online, toddlers can have temper tantrums anywhere. I was beginning to think that our little Jackson would never make such a public disruption of the peace, but alas, the time had come today.
This weekend is the Southport Festival, which if I hadn't seen a billboard advertising it, I wouldn't have known anything special was going on this weekend in town. I looked at the upcoming events earlier this week online and saw that today there would be a "music gig for children" at one o'clock. Knowing that Jackson loves to dance and seems to be entertained by live music (at least when we've encountered it by chance before), I bought tickets for our little family to go enjoy a live concert. I had high hopes of Jackson dancing along to the beat and maybe even trying to sing along as we've been working on singing different pitches during our long car rides to and from school. Then, if he really liked the music, we would buy a CD on the way out and maybe even get the singer to autograph the album!
We headed to the show at about ten til one so that Jackson wouldn't have to wait too long in a seat. With our tickets in hand and within about fifteen feet of the usher, a family of five with Bohemian, flowing pants on, nearly knocked us down so they could get to the usher first. Poor little Jackson, thinking that he needed to join the running stampede, trotted alongside the youngest child of the vagabonds up to the ticket-taker. The parents both very loudly announced, "HE'S NOT WITH US!" (Yes, our tiny toddler is trying to get into a £3 show for free by sneaking in with your bolting brood.) This annoying scene should have been our foreshadowing that something was stirring in the air and we should turn back.
Some pleasant background music was playing to serve as an overture to the singer's repertoire and Jackson took this opportunity to go straight to the stage (which was a cleared space in the library with chairs set-up in a semi-circle around it). He did his spinning moves and classic baby bounce and then returned to his seat, all the while holding his milk bottle.
With about two minutes to go until show time, Jackson wanted to leave. Usually if we let him roam and explore where he wants to go, then he settles down and joins in with what everyone else is doing eventually. But by the singer's first song, we didn't seem to be winning the battle this time. The screaming and crying and throwing of himself on the floor were disrupting the show and echoing throughout the Cathedral ceilings up the winding staircase. Milk, snacks, and even offerings of chocolate didn't work to calm Jackson down. We were at a loss of what to do so we had to abandon the show and leave by the third song. Of course as soon as we stepped out of the building, everything was hunky-dory again without a tear in sight.
After much discussion about what went wrong, our theories are that Jackson didn't care for the music or that he didn't want to share the stage. We will never know the true problem that sent Jackson into such a state, but we are happy that we decided not to force the situation--and we bet the other patrons are, too.
2017 Family Photo--it was a bit trickier this year as Jackson can walk and run now
Jackson meeting a cow and talking to it with his 'moo' sounds
A miniature railroad that leads to a secret stop on the farm
Jackson was embracing the wind at Windmill Farm
Windmill Farm trip 2017
We got our own little carriage on the miniature train!
Lots of adventures to be had down on the farm. There were little tractors that Jackson could ride along by walking his feet on the ground, but he wanted to ride the pedal-powered tractors like the big kids.
Today Jackson had his first haircut from a professional. I asked for the 'Prince George' when the lady asked how I wanted it done. He was calm and patient until about the last five minutes; then it was total meltdown mode. The hairdresser was really nice and helpful with the whole experience and we managed to distract him with some glittery trinkets and nail varnish in the window for just enough time at the end so she could complete her final snips.
Developmental updates: Jackson turned 19-months-old on Thursday. He likes walking himself out of nursery to the car, with his coat draped over one arm and a milk bottle in the other. If I try to hold his hand, then Jackson will hang on if he feels out of his depth, but for the most part, he wants to be independent while we walk together. During our car rides, I've been singing simple patterns of vowel sounds with varied pitches and Jackson repeats them back to me. (His low notes are the cutest because they aren't that low, but I can hear him trying his best to lower his baby voice.) Jackson's new animal noises are howling for a wolf and 'cock-a-doodle-do' for a rooster.
If you see Sammie Miles Davis, Jr. and Bella, give them my love.
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