Today Brandon and I ventured out to EPC (a local mall with an indoor play area). We usually head over there and play and have lunch together and we haven't been in some time. A few months ago Brandon got plowed over by an older boy. It was a total accident but since that day he has been a bit fearful of these play areas.
When we arrived today we rode the escalator down (his new favorite activity) and saw how PACKED it was. There was no sitting space on the padded benches that surround the play area. This was fine since I don't sit anyway when we are there. There were kids everywhere. Apart of me wanted to skip the play area and keep walking. I was worried that Brandon wouldn't venture out to play.
He took his time to get adjusted and then found tunnels to crawl in, stairs to climb, slides to slide down....he did just fine. I was a big scared when a 4 year old boy came into the tunnel he was in and pushed him over to the side and roared in his face and kept scaring him. I don't want to hover him and stop all confrontations. I want him to learn how to stand up for himself in a respectful manner and fight the battles he needs to fight in appropriate ways. He handled it just fine and let the boy do his thing and pass through the tunnel.
He played for about 15 minutes and decided it was time to be done. While heading for the exit he ran into another little boy (by accident). This other little boy was maybe a year old. The mom asked her little boy to apologize to Brandon. I also asked Brandon to apologize to the other little boy. Obviously this very little, sweet boy can't talk but Brandon knew how to use his sign language and apologize. He immediately turned to the other boy and signed "sorry". There were many moms that did this "Awwww" thing and were shocked he signed when I asked him to apologize. He then waved bye-bye and we left.
After we left the play area we went to ride the motorized truck. We put the quarters in and the ride started going. I got VERY MAD when a young girl (about 6 years old) ran over and started climbing in the truck. I said, "How about we take turns." She screamed NO and shoved (not a gentle push a full fledge SHOVE) Brandon. His head snapped back and he fell out of the truck (while it was moving). He fell on the ground and did a somersault. He screamed and had a huge gooser on his head. I was standing next to the truck but not to where I was touching Brandon and she shoved so hard and fast I reached to grab him and didn't make it. I immediately comforted Brandon as he was screaming and crying. The girl took over the ride and finished it. That was a bit of a waste of a buck. The girls mother was on the other side of the benches with her little brother. I did turn to the girl and tell her in a very stern voice, "I think we should keep our hands to ourselves and take turns. It hurts people when you push like that." She looked back at me and said, "NO". Now I had many other moms watching me. I decided to re-direct Brandon to another motorized 'ride'. We went to the motorcycle and the girl was screaming at me, "It is my turn. Make this one go." I ignored her and continued with Brandons ride. Once it started going the girl came running over and started to climb on his motorcycle while it was moving. I stepped in front of her and turned her around and asked her to go on a different ride. At this time her mother was near by helping her brother climb over the padded benches. Once he finished climbing over she sat back down on the bench. He ran into the toy store across the hall, grabbed a frisbee, a cup, and some other toy and ran out of the store. Brandon and I were done with the motorized motorcycle by then and I ran in the store to tell the associate about the incident. He ran out and stopped the boy (now 2 stores down). He took the items back to the store and the boy to find his mother. When she met up with her son, she slapped his hand and said 'NO'. At the same time the girl went into the arcade and pushed another kid out of the racing game so she could take her turn. It was time for Brandon and I to go have lunch....off we went.
Tonight, I am thankful I am an involved parent!
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