Wish me luck

Update: Whoo Hoo! False alarm. The big bad lady's door was closed today! We had a super friendly dietitian instead. We will overlook the fact that they were having computer and printing issues, thus taking for-eeever and making me late in all other errands....resulting in a late pick-up of the girls after school. But what else is new in my time-keeping flaws? It is a characteristic that I am continuously working on. And you thought I had it all together, didn't you?



I have an appointment today with an office I am not particularly happy with lately (a current trend). At the last appointment I was going over some paperwork with this woman and she told my boys two or three times to be quiet. Now, I really don't mind if somebody corrects my kids if they are really misbehaving, honestly. On this occasion they were sitting at a little table in the room playing with blocks and cars. They were using a louder voice than I would have liked, but they weren't running around, screaming or similar behaviors. I have seen them way more active-believe me. The first time she said it I felt slightly embarrassed- maybe I just wasn't paying attention? When she told them several other times, I was becoming frustrated. Logan was also corrected for pulling at a poster on her wall (attached with Velcro), and trying to walk behind her desk while I was signing paperwork. He's one.

This is an appointment where bringing your children is required-all of them young. Why would I willingly bring them if I have to sit through paperwork? So, why isn't this a more "kid friendly" environment? Why isn't there an area where they can play while parents talk with the professional?

I do not allow my children to run wild through the offices, but when I am there for over an hour discussing and looking at paperwork, and there are signs everywhere "No food or drink"--and it's past 2:00 p.m.....well, we are going to have some issues. I thought the boys were doing well in those circumstances. The problem is that I felt myself getting frustrated at my kids for not meeting her expectations. I also totally stopped listening at the end, and missed some important bits of knowledge (future procedures).

While I was there, I considered gathering my things and going, but I didn't for a silly reason. I had unpacked things from my bag for the kids and we had coats/hats/etc. and it just wouldn't have made a "smooth exit". Make sense? If I could have just picked up my purse and taken their hands...we would have left after telling her that I could tell that we were inconveniencing her. Or something else cleverly stated.

This time I am better prepared. I won't feel the pressure. If we do get the same woman (which we may not), I will respond appropriately if she wrongly corrects them. I am going to really, really warn them before we go in...and reward them immensely when we walk out. Go me!