Coffee Date

Inspired by a friend's recent coffee dates with her two daughters, I thought that would be a good way to spend a little one-on-one time with my first born, focused on him without the baby.

Good in theory, harder in execution. Saturday morning we were suppose to go together to get my bangs trimmed followed by a stop at the Starbucks next door to the salon. The first sign of trouble came when it was time to leave and CSR became a waffler-- saying one second he didn't want to go and then changing his mind. I have him buckled into his car seat and he's sitting there crying that he didn't want to go. Fine with me. Tyler hauls him out of the car, which of course by now CSR is crying that he DOES want to go. Ugh. Already running late for the hair appointment, I leave without him. While waiting for my hair dresser, the cell phone rings. It's a calmer CSR asking me if I would pick him up to go to coffee. Fine. This time, we make it to the coffee shop. After letting him pick whatever he wanted out of the pastry case (pumpkin scone), I say "where do you want to sit?" He says we're not staying here, we're going to the park. In my head I'm thinking this coffee date isn't turning out like I planned. While he's lobbying for Carkeek park (too big, too far), I say we can go to another nearby, smaller park.

I'm trying to make some "positive" deposits in my parenting savings account. So far, what's suppose to be a fun, simple coffee date has been a battle. I've been thinking lately I've had to turn down some simple requests or say no because of the demands of the baby-- so maybe I can turn things around and try to say "yes" more. This was my opportunity.

Yes, I will read the book after I eat some lunch.
Yes, we can go to the park.
Yes, I will push you on the swing some more.
Yes, I will play what you want to play at the playground and not be tempted to use the cell phone.
Yes, I won't leave the park until you are ready.

That last one didn't quite work out. I had to do the mommy time trick-- give the 5 minute warning that we had to go. Sadly, other Saturday errands waited. CSR probably would have stayed there all day. Still not sure if my deposits made any difference. But it was nice to just play.