ScrumpyDaddy

Posted by Rachel

Yesterday we took Abby to her first movie in the movie theater. It was quite a hectic at times disappointing experience for Mom and Dad, but the best time for Abby. It is amazing how as adults how we have these expectations for ourselves and events and children just see the fun and joy.

Let me tell you the story from Abby’s perspective first:

Abby was so excited all day. We had told her the night before what the plan was for the day so she was prepared. We didn’t tell her what movie we were going to see yet. In the morning we had breakfast, played barbies, drew a little bit, and went outside for a while. We then had lunch early and went down for an early nap. At first I was nervous she was not going to fall asleep, but she did. I got her up around 2pm and asked her if she was ready to go see her movie. Her eyes lit up and she immediately got up from her nap. We went potty and then off to the movie. By this time we had told her what movie we were going to see, “How To Train Your Dragon.” She said, “I like that one.”
http://www.howtotrainyourdragon.com/

Then we were on our way. The entire way she kept asking if we were there and questions about everything she saw on the way. You could definitely tell she was excited. I went in first to get the tickets and the popcorn so that Abby didn’t have to stand in line. Dave and Abby parked the car and then met me inside. I had packed some snacks from home for Abby (fruit snacks, drink box, goldfish, etc). I wasn’t sure if Abby liked popcorn. The previews had already started by the time we got in there, but we were able to find 3 seats together. Abby was on the edge of her seat for about the first half an hour of the movie. She was totally engaged in the movie. She didn’t talk at all at first. Eventually that changed and we had to remind her to whisper and not talk. She watched the whole thing without wanting to get up and even wanted to stay for the credits. She of course then wanted to go watch another one and we said we didn’t pay for another one. Her response was can we pay to watch another one tomorrow. After the movie on the way to dinner we asked her how she liked the movie. She said she liked the blue dragon (the main dragon, toothless). She then began to play with it and wanted her to be the blue dragon, Daddy to be Hiccup, and Mommy to be Astrid. Based on that I knew she liked the movie. That is what she does with her favorite traditional Disney movies (The Little Mermaid). I had asked Abby what she wanted for dinner (the was her day) and she wanted Tacos. We eventually ended up at the mall food court and got Abby Taco Bell. Lastly, we went to pick up Zach at Grandma’s house and Abby told Grandma all about the movie. She had a great day!

Now the Day from Mommy and Daddy’s perspective:

We were late! We didn’t even leave the house for the movie until 2:25 and the movie was at 2:50. We had to drop Zach off at Grandma’s while Abby finished her nap and Dave didn’t leave to do that until 1:40 and it takes 15-20 minutes to get to Grandma’s house. So on the way, Dave and I were frustrated that we were late and were worried about seating and Abby not getting the full experience of the movie theater and entering the movie. So, to help move things along in case there were lines Dave dropped me off at the door and I ran inside to get tickets and popcorn. By the way there were no lines for either tickets or popcorn. We had arrived at the theater at 2:56. We got into the theater and at first there was nowhere to sit. We were standing on the stairs looking around like what do we do. There were only seats of 2 because of the way other people had positioned themselves. I finally got up the courage to ask a gentleman if he would mind moving over one so we had 3 seats together. He seemed annoyed, but moved over. The movie part was great and we hadn’t missed anything but a few previews.

After the movie I asked Abby what she wanted for dinner and she said a taco. A taco, of course a taco, where would I be able to get one of those down at the Waterfront. There is no Mexican place there so Dave and I started to discuss where we could go. We wanted to take Abby to a nice dinner for just the 3 of us. Dave and I didn’t want fast food from Taco Bell, so we finally decided on Amigos (a place in the Galleria Mall). We started to head over there, which was about a half an hour from the Waterfront. Along the way, Abby kept asking for a snack and I got more and more frustrated because it was getting late for dinner and I could tell she was hungry. We finally got to the Galleria mall and went inside and you won’t believe it…Amigos was closed. I am not sure when it closed, but oh the frustration. Now we were no where near another Mexican place and the only Taco Bell around was at South Hills Village Mall. With no other choice and wanting to get Abby what she wanted for dinner we headed over to the other mall to eat at the food court. Abby loved it and ate all of her taco. I had not so good experience. My meal was very lacking this time and all I wanted to do was scream.

I felt like a failure and like the day had been ruined with all the lateness and running around trying to find tacos. Abby totally saw it differently and since it was her day all that mattered was her.

Hopefully next time it will be a better experience for ALL of us.