I guess it's genetic...

I have so many stories and pictures from the last couple of weeks - but I cannot go on to those without writing down these two stories. I might be opening Pandora's Box, so to speak, but I think I know where the boys get their knack for trouble :)

A few weeks ago...

The boys I went to the gym...a daily event for us. The gym had just started a new policy where only one family at a time can come in, check their child in, and leave. The other parents had to wait outside of the kids' center. From a protective standpoint I completely understand this move...but when you are waiting with excited kids it's a little inconvenient. It's even worse when, after your workout, you are standing behind three other parents in line to pick up your kids and someone walks right past all four of you, past the huge red signs which say 'STOP! ONE PARENT A TIME!', and into the kids' center.

This is exactly what happened to me a few weeks ago. In typical fashion, the other parents and I just kind of stared with dropped jaws at each other, then in at her, and then back at each other. Pretty soon the open mouths started spewing. Each one of us remarking about whether she saw us, whether she knew the rules, how someone should say something, how rude it was, etc, etc. After a few minutes of this I decided that I was going to say something. I have to say, in defense of myself, I usually do not say something. However when someone blatantly breaks the rules, rules that I am frustratingly following, well that really gets me. I had no idea what a dung hole I was stepping in with my decision! I casually walked into the two parent filled kids center, smiled at the offender, and said sweetly, 'I'm not sure if you saw us, but there are four parents out there waiting our turn to come in and get our kids.' She looked at me with a blank face and said 'Oh, I did not see you. I mean, I thought you all already had your kids.' Yes, that was her response. I turned around, having done my duty, and left as the workers tried to explain to her the policy.

Well, it did not stop there. As she left the center she walked right past us, this time with everyone glaring. She said to everyone, 'I did not even seen you'. Well, the fury came. I retorted with 'Yeah, I often get confused for a mannequin.' Well that was all she needed to come unglued. Next thing you know she's yelling across the lobby at me talking about how rude I am, how disrespectful I am, etc. Granted I shouldn't have said what I did. Still, she didn't see us? FOUR adults standing in a line directly leading up to the kids' center? Pluhhheese. Had she, at some point, just said 'Hey, I'm sorry' it would have changed my whole attitude. Next thing I know she's got the manager of the gym trying to calm her down while she explains all the reasons I should not be allowed to come to the gym anymore. I get called over to discuss the problem..which I do rather calmly and with no further sarcasm. He excuses me and talks with the other parents. They confirm what happened and he asks her to let it go and to have a good day. Remember she is doing this the whole time with her non-walking child in her arms. I figure it is all said and done.

I wait my turn to get the boys, take them to the bathroom, talk again with the manager (who apologizes unnecessarily), and open the door. Guess who is waiting for me? YES! I am totally serious. She waited outside and announced 'We are not done talking'. And yes, she still is holding her kid. I almost wanted to look around and ask where the Candid Camera was! I told her that I had nothing to say and that her decision to wait around to talk to me was not a good one. Needless to say the manager fully supported my proposal to not have her at the gym for a while. It was so surreal. Every time I think of it I get the music from West Side Story - only with kids in arms instead of knives! 'When you're a Jet you're a Jet all the way!'

Today....

After picking Will up from preschool we headed to our local library. This is a treat for my TV-deprived boys who get to choose a movie every week for their viewing pleasure. It became obvious that Walker needed to use the potty. We went in there once...no luck. Twice...no luck. Seems, which is common, that his fear of public potties was kicking in. We headed back into the library and while browsing the movies it became even more obvious that Walker had, well given up on waiting to use the toilet. A little frustrated we hurried to check out our books and movies, and went into the bathroom. On the way in the boys expressed their desire to go in the triangle bathroom (the men's sign in a triangle) and not the circle. Pushing open the door I explained that since mommy is a girl I couldn't go into the triangle bathroom and that they would need to come with me.

A few minutes into what became changing the entire bottom half of Walker's clothing (note to other moms, bring a change of underwear, pants, socks and a plastic bag everywhere when potty training), a woman came out of a stall, walked by me and said 'I'm sorry, I thought this was the women's room.' I figured that she had heard part of my conversation with the boys and misunderstood us. I turned to her and said 'Oh, this is the women's room'. She looked at me, right in the eyes, and said 'Well then why are there boys in here?' Ok readers - I cannot even write and explain how flabbergasted I was. And...here is where trouble came...I said, 'Seriously?'

Someone just stop me! I know better than this. Especially since this woman was disheveled and possibly under the influence of something. The 'seriously' just slipped out! This led to the woman telling me to take her seriously, that I was inappropriate to bring 'men' into the ladies' room, and has moved into the building foyer (not directly in the library) where she is expressing her frustration in a loud voice. At this point I'm just done and I retort with how it must take a rocket scientist to figure out why I would take my 3 and 2 year-old into the the bathroom with me. Walker is walking around in his poopy underwear since the library staff has come out to understand the situation. Will is clinging to my leg watching the whole thing unfold. She finally throws herself down on the floor (yes, the floor), exuding hysterics at how humiliating it is to go in a bathroom that has 'men' in it. I still couldn't believe it was happening.

The library administrator did a great job of working with her and seemed to have calmed her down. Though as we were leaving, walking up the stairs that she was laying underneath, I heard her say that she was going to sue the library for allowing men in the ladies room.

Seriously?