I flow with an attitude of serendipity through all kinds of experiences.
—Louise Hay
Today being a prime example of attempting to make “flowing” a reality at the overcrowded Long Beach Aquarium Of The Pacific and its magnificent, child-endearing cases and cases of fish, coral, anemones, jellyfish, weedy sea dragons, super weird s*** with mouths and tails you can touch and even a bull shark with restless twitches in a tank big enough for a convention of hermit crabs, maybe, but—a tank big enough to house that many sharks? (Turn Mind Off After $20-something admission fee, just: Turn. Mind. Off…).
Having been on a serious Nemo kick since Catalina Island and the charming rentable house we stayed in with The Movie he had never seen before because Nemo’s mother is wiped out in the first two minutes and I hate that—
Having been on a serious Nemo kick (we own the movie now, oh yeah—but I fast forward through mom’s fatal chomping by a barracuda), and not having been to the aquarium since October, 2009, when the giant water squirting squid was all he wanted and we ate next to some kids atrocious to birds—
Having been on a serious Nemo kick due to worry that my son watches too many DVD’s while mama stares blank-eyed into her 6am cup of coffee—I am on a serious outings kick. Because of T’s current Nemo fascination, where to go BUT the aquarium and its sweetly caged aqua-beasts and (don’t know why it’s there, but it’s nice) Lorikeet Forest?
I knew I wouldn’t be getting a nap and I was prepared for that, prepared to go a few thousand extra miles this day, but I wasn’t prepared for my son’s enthusiasm. He told anyone and everyone standing at every case HI!!! FISH!!! WOOK!!! FISH!!! And, when we found the Nemo case, HI!!! NEMO!!! WOOK!!! DURY!!! (i.e., Dory—many, many Nemos and Dorys swimming together beautifully, making kids BALLISTIC with excitement—they must have planned it that way, right? Those diabolical-aquarium-planner types? Or—Disney?).
Enthusiasm that, several times, accelerated into chaotic emotion preceding (as I know from experience in Target and malls) tantrums, during which my son shouts STOP IT STOP IT STOP, as though I’m beating him in public (instead of just standing there with a slump in my shoulders and a glance at my wristwatch as he enters serious turmoil). Arrrrgh! I felt bi-polarish the entire fish-viewing: Utterly elated by his elation, then sunk (pun intended) by his own tot-bi-polarish angst. Little guy!
However (and I’m not patting myself on the back with big whoops or woots or however we spell shizzzz—I’m simply stating my own experience): Despite my frustration at my son’s frustration with Listening-To-Mama, I was pleased with my TONE when dealing with his—well, with his tone. True, I did use the, “We’ll have to go back to the car, then, won’t we?”, but I did not raise my voice, did not accuse him of grievous wrong-doing, did not beg or plead or argue or lie on the darkish aquarium carpet in the fetal position, sucking my thumb before a gathering crowd. I did what I’ve been practicing since he turned 2 and startled me with his first tantrum–only this time, today, it was easier for me—my parenting method was easier—it flowed: I talked to him. And talked to him some more, whatever his reaction—until he calmed and the angst receded from his eyes like (yes, I’m writing it and sticking by it!) a minus tide…
And then I bought him a Nemo.
Beautiful story about the aquarium. The tantrum scene brought back memories. I like to think I might have handled them as well as you did, I hope so. Good work Big Mama.!!
I love this post. Very cute story. I lived it through your beautifully written words. Thanks!
[…]Here are some of the sites we recommend for our visitors[…] …
[…]just beneath, are numerous totally not related sites to ours, however, they are surely worth going over[…] …
[…]although websites we backlink to below are considerably not related to ours, we feel they are actually worth a go through, so have a look[…] …
[…]Here is a Great Blog You Might Find Interesting that we Encourage You[…] …
[…]usually posts some very interesting stuff like this. If youre new to this site[…] …
[…] Every once in a while we choose blogs that we read. Listed below are the latest sites that we choose […] …
Online Article …
[…]The information mentioned in the article are some of the best available […]……
Cool sites…
[…]we came across a cool site that you might enjoy. Take a look if you want[…] …
Visitor recommendations…
[…]one of our visitors recently recommended the following website[…] …
Cool sites…
[…]we came across a fantastic site that you might enjoy. Take a look if you want[…] …
You should check this out…
[…] Great story, reckoned we could combine a few unrelated information, nevertheless honestly worth taking a look, whoa did 1 learn about Mid East has got extra problerms also […] …
Can’t Get Any Better Than This…
[…]Right on the spot! I’ve been searching for this. Keep it up[…]……
[…]please visit the sites we follow, including this one, as it represents our picks from the web[…] …
[…]one of our visitors recently recommended the following website[…] …