Trip To The Park Goes Awry For Grandpa Dave
The game plan for the day seemed pretty good. First I would take Skylar to the park to feed the ducks, and then top it off at McDonalds with a Happy Meal and some time at the indoor playground. However, the excursion revealed that I am a bit rusty with the kid-care business.
The park is a great place for kids. Business is booming and McMansions seemingly adorn every street in the area, so our County caretakers have been wise enough to provide first-class parks for the citizenry. And those of the lower socio-economic stratus, like myself, can benefit. The playground is topnotch. The grass is immaculately trimmed, and we have the choice of walking trails made of pavement, wood chips, or rubber. A centerpiece of the park is a nice pond with a fountain, and ducks. Lots of fat, lazy ducks. Skylar calls them "quacks".
We took some bread for the "quacks". These we found to be fat, lazy, slow quacks. I guess they can afford to be picky because they are fed by a hundred kids every day. And perhaps the bread was too old, or not from the finest bakery. We walked around and finally found some geese willing to offer at our sorry meal. These were agressive and demanding geese and rather impatient with my little girl. But Skylar seemed to enjoy feeding the spoiled brats. And as I was grabbing the camera to take a photo, it happened. Skylar walked out into the water and fell face-first. It was only about 2 inches, but she got good and wet, and upset. And she got the bandage on her hand good and soaked. I called to find out what to do next- change the bandage, don't worry about it, or take her to the physician?
Awaiting the call-back, we went to McDonald's. You have to admit these guys do a great job marketing to kids. As we sat down to eat, the lady at the table next to me proceeded to place her infant on top of the table to change her diaper. That's right- the same surface upon which the next guy will be placing his hamburger! Now, if I go to McDonald's I do not demand a quiet and elegant dining experience. But I do expect that my table not be used as a diaper changing station! My question is what kind of person has such low respect for the other guy, and is of such a lazy personal ethic, to do such a thing? So I did not finish my Quarter Pounder.
Skylar then crawled into the play gym, far up into the tube at the very top, and froze. She cried, and big tears rolled down her cheeks, and she looked down at grandpa through the little window. So I had to crawl up there to get her. It was not easy, and I did not appreciate the scowling stare of the diaper-changing-lady. We got back out to the car, and then a familiar aroma reminded me it was time for that childcare task I most dislike. I thought about returning to the restaurant and changing her on a certain person's table. Instead, I managed in the parking lot. It was not fun.
Now I must clean and re-wrap her hand. And she does not seem to want to cooperate. Why can't this 18-month-old follow simple instructions?
You know what? Even a bad day, being a grandpa to my little one, still ends up being a good day.
09.21.07 (2:22 pm) [
edit]
posted by:
bratmom (
reply)
post date:
09.21.07 (12:48 pm)
Awww glad you had a good day! Sounds like you didnt do have bad!
posted by:
auntconi (
reply)
post date:
09.21.07 (4:30 pm)
So sweet of you to take Skylar to feed the ‘quacks’ and to go for a dip in the pond, etc.
If she doesn’t remember this day, I’m sure you will. You did a good thing there Grandpa!
When my son was a youngster we used to take stale bread to the canal at Holland State Park and feed the ducks ~ one of the fun things he does with his kids today. They love it.
posted by:
doeeyed (
reply)
post date:
09.21.07 (6:05 pm)
And being a Mimi ain't too shabby either ;)
BTW, Skylar is a little doll!
posted by:
fractalmom (
reply)
post date:
09.22.07 (8:39 am)
she is so adorable, and you are so lucky!! our ducks are retarded also. when our skyler was in kindergarten, i would try to pick jaiden up from daycare early and we would go feed the ducks. i actually kept a bag of stale bread and bread heels in the back of the pt cruiser for that very purpose. the ducks were so retarded that feeding them really just meant polluting the ohio river with old crusty bread, but jaiden had fun throwing it. occassionally, one of the less stupid ducks would come close and eat a few pieces and it thrilled the baby.
it's little moments like these that we remember and helps us to not kill them when they turn eight and correct every single sentence that comes out of our mouths.
posted by:
bawdy (
reply)
post date:
09.22.07 (12:04 pm)
I guess the benefit of being a grandparent is you get days like that, but only on a part time basis.
I will never eat inside McDonalds again. Ewww!
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
09.22.07 (4:30 pm)
Reply to: bawdy
Dining at fast food places, it is best not to think too deeply about such matters as food prep and cleanliness. Last night my daughter and I made a quick run to the DQ to get an ice cream. Printed on the door was closing time at 11:00 p.m. However, the door was locked at 10:10. We went through the drive through, and I asked why the door was locked. She said they close at 10:30. I complained. The worker was tired and did not appreciate my query. Later that night, after eating my sundae, I started wondering if maybe she could have done something disgusting to my food. Not a good thought! The morale- be nice to workers at fast food restaurants!
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
09.22.07 (4:31 pm)
Reply to: doeeyed
Most definitely she is a doll, and you are quite astute to recognize such. She is a bright life in my life.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
09.22.07 (4:32 pm)
Reply to: bratmom
Not bad. I watch the little one on Fridays, and we always have a good time. We have become good buddies.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
09.22.07 (4:36 pm)
Reply to: fractalmom
You're right. They get older and mouthy. Last night at church we had movie night. Afterwards, one of the kids ran over to the piano and started banging. Pianos cost a lot of money, and tuning them is not cheap. The mom seemed oblivious. I asked him to stop. He kept banging. So, I gave him the old pinch on the deltoid. He stopped immediately, writhing in pain as if I had hit him with a 2 by 4. He was whimpering to mom. I get quite irritated with parents that let their kids run wild, without respect for property or other people. I could tell the lady was irritated at me. Next time, keep the kid away from the piano.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
09.22.07 (4:38 pm)
Reply to: auntconi
I remember long ago, when my now College girl was a toddler, we went across the river from Detroit into Windsor. We found a park, and tried to feed the ducks some bread. The ducks were biting ducks! They started attacking us in droves. It was a scene out of Alfred Hitchcock. I think my daughter still has nightmares about it.
Those Yankee ducks are dangerous.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
09.22.07 (4:40 pm)
Reply to: doeeyed
"...bright light..."
posted by:
fractalmom (
reply)
post date:
09.23.07 (10:43 am)
Reply to: PastorDave
I hate it that parenting seems to have changed. People tend to rely on schoolteachers and daycare providers to do the actual job of parenting, which is to teach our children manners, morals, values and how to listen and learn. If we could all simply do our jobs as parents, it would make the jobs of others that our children interact with so much more pleasant.
Today at church, **sigh** I forgot the coloring book and crayons. Keeping three young girls ages 8, 6, and 5 quiet and contained in the wooden pew with no cushions on our tush's LOL, and nothing to do but listen to the Priest....well, I have a headache. But still, church was nice.
posted by:
surrogate (
reply)
post date:
09.24.07 (6:30 am)
Changing a baby on a table? Now there's a new low in respect for others.
Cute kid. And she's growing like a weed!
posted by:
emerging (
reply)
post date:
09.24.07 (8:20 am)
Picture, if you will, a restaurant (and I use the term loosely) where there are no changing tables in the usually filthy restrooms. Superimposed on the scene is a harried mother who wants nothing more than to make certain her child is clean and dry. What to do?
I've been there and, although I used the seat in a booth, I have changed my child in the dining room. In my defense, it was a frigid winter wonderland outside - not the time of year to attempt such a feat in the car. I received a good many glares from fellow patrons. My response? Is a changing table in the restroom such an outrageous request?? I know it's worse for men caring for small children because not all places have moved with the times and properly equipped men's rooms.
I'm glad you had a great day, despite the challenges. You can probably add another moral to your story - never set your food directly on the table when dining at such establishments!
posted by:
almsthvn (
reply)
post date:
09.24.07 (7:43 pm)
I'm so glad you and the tiny tot had such a good time - You're building such priceless memories :)
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
09.24.07 (8:14 pm)
Reply to: surrogate
Growing fast. And, lots of fun. You really should try this grandkid stuff. You would like it.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
09.24.07 (8:15 pm)
Reply to: almsthvn
Priceless memories. You're right. I hope very much to have a great friendship with her, and to be in her life for a long time. In a sense, I'm born again with this little girl.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
09.24.07 (8:20 pm)
Reply to: emerging
I understand using the seat in the booth, if you must. At least you didn't use the table top. Did you do wrong? If it was a fine dining establishment, a place where people pay a good price to get out and enjoy peace and quiet, then I believe you and I do not need to bring an infant into such a setting. But a fast-food restaurant? People who go there should expect to see and hear lots of little kids. I can handle a diaper being changed, if the mom at least tries to get out of direct sight with the task. But, on the table? Come on!
I'd never place my food directly on the table at any restaurant. No way. Especially after this experience.
posted by:
auntconi (
reply)
post date:
09.24.07 (10:23 pm)
Reply to: PastorDave,
nuh uh! ~ not the yankee ducks; the canuck ducks are dangerous!
posted by:
yellowsubmarine (
reply)
post date:
09.25.07 (3:20 am)
hi pastordave, havent read your blog in a long while. skylar is growing so fast and she's such a beautiful little girl!
posted by:
inkspector (
reply)
post date:
09.25.07 (3:53 pm)
Very cute. They grow up too fast.
See, there is a real reason why I carry those Lysol handy wipes with me.
If we had to change a diaper, we took them either inside the bathroom with the changing table OR back to the car but never in an open public area.
posted by:
heavyarms (
reply)
post date:
09.26.07 (11:38 am)
Dave, the diaper thing happened to me once. I was working as a waiter in college and there was a woman, man, and a baby. This was a Sunday, near the end of my lunch shift. The lady put the baby on the table and changed its diaper. When I went to pre-bus the table, there was the diaper, right in the middle of their plates and drink glasses. I thought, "Not only is this nasty for the next people to sit at the table, but its nasty for every single person I have to serve." It really pissed me off that people would be so inconsiderate. I picked up the diaper and went outside and chunked it at the people that left it behind, "Hey, you left your diaper on the table!"
