Well, Parenting Magazine still hasn't called to interview me for Mom of the Year. I guess they found out that last year I waited until the last minute to order tickets to Madeline's dance recital and they were sold out. Luckily, I did end up getting seats and all was well - Madeline was never the wiser.
I mean as parents we all make those "I messed up but I fixed it before the kid even got a sniff of what was going on" mistakes. The broken trophy that was quickly replaced while at school. The time you ate all of the Halloween candy so you had to run to the grocery store. You forgot the team snack and booked it to get those oranges. So yeah, those are moments you messed up, but at the end of the day are able to put that tally in your "mom win" column.
BUT
then there are those mistakes where there is no rock you can hide under and you are completely exposed to the fact that you have no idea what you are even doing as a parent. I mean, wasn't it yesterday my mom was the one taking care of my life's every detail? Now, poof! It's suddenly my turn.
It was Madeline's dance class. (What's up with me and dance?) It was the class before Halloween and the kids were encouraged to dress up. Madeline has dance on Wednesday and that particular day called for the kids to come to class dressed up all Wacky.
QUICK AUTISM NOTE: Madeline's idea of "wacky" is wearing a slightly different shade of pink leggings that somewhat clashes with the other shade of pink that is on her shirt. No wacky hair, no crazy mix-match crazy clothes. To her it makes absolutely no sense. Everything has its place.
Ok - back to the story. I get to dance early and attempt to make her wacky. I was even going to have her wear her Ninja Turtle Leo mask. BUT I forgot it at home. So I tried to compensate by getting her into the wacky theme. Again, a regular pony tail and some pink leggings that clashed with the red flowers on her shirt were the only things that would do. We are finished and I get her to her volunteer and up the stairs they go. I was going to head to Costco while she was in dance and get her a full Ninja Turtle costume, when I came in contact with another autism mom and started flapping my gums. About 20 minutes later, I hear this girl throwing a fit.... it was Madeline. Apparently, even thought it was wacky day, everyone wore their costume and got a turn to show them off. Well, Madeline wasn't wearing hers (remember, I forgot her mask?) She was beside herself. Those "things aren't exactly perfect and going according to plan" tantrums aren't pretty. I told her that if she calmed down, I would go to the store and get her costume.
I swooped up Norah, ran to my car, strapped her in, and drove to Costco, because I remember they had several Ninja Turtle costumes. We get out, show the lady our card and race to the costumes, where there was ONLY ONE Ninja Turtle costume left in the entire warehouse.... AND IT WAS HER SIZE!!! Unfortunately it was missing the shell part, but I had no time to bargain with the cashier. I gladly paid and went on my way. But I was no fool. I took the packaging with the picture of the complete costume and threw that puppy in the trash! No way I was letting her see a piece was missing. I made it back to dance class with 5 minutes to spare. Madeline was back downstairs upset, but I raced in, put on her costume, and all was right with the world. She got 5 minutes of dancing in her costume.
At the end of the day my nerves were fried, but I went to bed with a tally in my "mom win" column.
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