Sunday, July 10, 2011

Even baby chimps know how to crack their own peanuts.

Much like the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, I had a very Southern California Weekend (incidentally, I was at the gym when the news cut in with their landing at LAX and I wanted to shout, "Welcome to my home, you Adorable Royal Couple!  Stop on over for some cookies!")

I went to the Dodger game on Friday night (we won!) and the beach on Saturday morning (no sun burn!) and the Hollywood Bowl on Saturday night where we watched Westside Story (probably my second favorite musical - after Sound of Music, natch) with the LA Phil playing the score live, in sync with the film.  And if you're wondering - IT WAS AMAZING.

But back to the Dodger Game.  We got free fancy seats (thanks, Uncle Rob!) and there was a couple sitting in front of us with their son and his friend, both about 6.  Katie and I sat in total wonder as the mom spent the entire 4 innings that they were there doing everything for those two boys, such as breaking their hot dogs into smaller pieces, telling them when something good happened and making them clap, and cracking the peanuts out of their shells and handing them to the boys.  When she wasn't wiping ketchup off their faces or fixing their hair she was taking pictures of them.  The kids didn't seem to mind having their baseball experience micromanaged like that and the mom seemed like it wasn't a hassle to her.  EXCEPT:  (Cranky Spinster Woman Disclaimer:  I don't have kids.  What do I know about anything.)  isn't one of the joys of childhood learning how to crack a peanut?  And can't a kid just sit with his friend and laugh at silly 6 year old things without constantly being told to clap or smile or eat this bite-sized piece of hot dog?  I felt bad for the kids.  But I also felt bad for the mom because 20 years from now her son is going to be calling her up from the Dodger game asking why she didn't pack shelled peanuts in his lunch?

6 comments:

Kelly said...

I have 5 kids and I couldn't agree with you more. I would also have LOVED to see WS Story with a live orchestra. How lucky are you?

dad said...

Another helicopter mom hovering over her kids doing her best to help create the most useless, entitled generation ever. At least the kids will have plenty of trophies given just for showing up. Please let your children have their first disappointments in life prior to becoming adults.

Mary P said...

Rachel, have you ever thought of using the worlds largest felt collection to make quiet books? Looky here: http://juliegillrie.blogspot.com/2010/09/star-wars-quiet-book.html

Stephanie said...

As a mother of a 7 year old, I sometimes have a hard time not doing things for my kid. I sometimes have to force her to pick out her own clothes and wash her own hair and to say "thank you" when someone is kind or generous. But I have her do it because it's the right thing to do. It's much easier (and cleaner) to just do things for her - but I know it's better for her if I just let the rice fall on the floor and let her wear the purple skirt with the burgundy top.

I actually feel less like a helicopter parent when I read accounts like these of micromanaging mothers - I'm downright relaxed compared to this mama.

Rach said...

I admit I have a tendency to hover a teensy bit with my 6-year-old. But he's been to Texas Road House enough times to know how to shell a peanut. And he'd have to be the one to tell me when to clap at a baseball game. But I do cut up his hot dogs at home. Not when we're out, though. Then he uses his front teeth.

And I am super extra jealous that you got to see West Side Story with the LA Phil. Awesome.

Anonymous said...

.......

Know who I feel bad for? The women in those boys' future dating circle.