Trust Your Gut

March 13, 2010  |  Posted by ClumberKim  

not sick on TwitpicAfter nearly five years of being a parent I know my instincts about my kids are nearly always reliable. It’s something I discovered a few years before, during a difficult hiring situation at work. I knew who to hire. Everyone else was pushing me to hire another guy. I caved to the pressure and it was even more of a train wreck than I ever imagined. But I digress. Kids. Instincts. Reliable.

So why do I forget this so consistently and so often?

We have an upcoming trip that is going to involve many restaurant meals with the kids. It’s not something we do often enough so I have been looking for opportunities. Last night looked like a good one. I didn’t think too much of it when Mr C and Eleanor emerged from her school carrying a bag of soiled clothes. The report was a few kids had extra messy poop after nap. Black bean quesadillas were to blame. (uh, huh)

Eleanor was doing fine at dinner, until the very moment she wasn’t. She started making whiny noises, touching her forehead, and putting fingers in her mouth. She complained mightily when offered more food. I knew. Yet I was powerless. Within minutes, the “crumbs” as she likes to call it, were all over her, her plate, and the table. The three of us just watched, horrified and frozen to our seats.

I scooped her up and took her to the Ladies’. We were the closest table so I didn’t have to pass anyone on the way. Upon closer inspection she didn’t have much on her. A little in her hair. A little on her pants. Ewwww. It turned out to be a good thing Mr C tucked a napkin into the neck of her shirt as a makeshift bib. A very, very good thing.

And within 2 minutes she was again the happiest little girl you could ever hope to meet.

Apologies to anyone else who might have been catching an early dinner last night at the Church Brew Works. And even bigger apologies to the poor dude who had to clean up the aftermath. Despite making some rookie mistakes with the kids (do NOT take their drinks without giving their parents a chance to explain you are getting them more!) I hope Mr C left a good tip.

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  • http://kdiddy.org/ kdiddy

    an off-shoot of my intense fear of vomit is an even more intense fear of vomiting in public. at a restaurant one time, my kid got real sleepy all of a sudden and I thought for sure he was about to vom or something. Turns out he was just really tired. I was panicked, though. So, you've survived one of my worst nightmares and lived to tell the tale. Good on you! ;-)

  • http://www.jennyonthespot.com/ jennyonthespot

    Oh man. I feel ya sistah. I feel ya…

  • http://www.bostonmamas.com/ Boston Mamas

    I totally agree. I've always been an instinct person but I didn't really start following them until I became a mom and started having gut reactions very strongly. And seriously, every time I ride against my instinct (professionally or personally) I totally regret it later.

  • red_pen_mama

    It's the culture of second-guessing. Resist it! I like to point out that since I have become a mother, I am always right. And I'm right (okay, when it comes to my kids). It's like magic!