Nicola's Baby Blog

Yesterday...

Yesterday, Ruth, my youngest stepdaughter, had her dance show at her school.  She wanted both Stephen and I to attend, but I worried about bringing Jake.  A two-year old at any such function scared me to death!

But Stephen reasoned with me: we can't let Jake rule the roost around here.  We can't stay away from events because we're worried about him acting out.  Anyway, Stephen said, Ruth has three dance numbers.  We'll take turns watching Jake so that we both get a chance to enjoy the show.

So we kitted ourselves out with three bottles of juice (the show was only an hour and a half long!), a bag of cookies, two nappies and wipes.  We loaded the buggy into the car and set out.

It was hard-going, I tell you.  We realized soon after getting there that Jake was really hyper and excited.  We stood in the hallway of Ruth's school and tried in vain to keep the boy nearby.  We'd tried the buggy but the noise level rose and people, I'm sure, started to think that we were beating him.

While Stephen went in to the auditorium to watch Ruth's first dance, I stayed in the hall with Jake and let him push the buggy up and down the hall.  We must have gone back and forth a hundred times.  The kid sure can move.

Then Stephen took his turn but decided to take Jake for a "quick" walk outside.  I was going to watch Ruth's next dance and Stephen would be back for the finale.  So I sat in peace and watched Ruth dance.  She was really good and I was proud.

I sat through a couple more songs and wondered where Stephen had gotten to.  Then the final dance number started, so I sat and watched that too.  After the final applause, Stephen and Jake burst through the door and were a bit disappointed that they'd missed it.  Well, Stephen was at least.

We took Jake home and put him to bed exhausted.  It's hard to do these kinds of things with a lively two-year old.  I think I'll wait a year to try again.

7.6.06 22:34